ASINGAN — The suspension order issued by the Ombudsman against Mayor Heidi Chua and Vice Mayor Carlos Lopez Jr. were served Friday morning by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office.

DILG Regional Director James Fadrinal, assisted by DILG Pangasinan Provincial Director Agnes de Leon, served the suspension order on the offices of the two officials at 9:35 a.m.

Chua was not in her office when the two DILG officials arrived so the order was served and received by the mayor’s legal counsel.

The suspension of Chua and Lopez were ordered by the Ombudsman in an October ruling but which was only issue released in December last year for violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for placing their names and photos in the new ambulance purchased by the local government.

They were also cited by the Ombudsman for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and simple misconduct.

The two were the subjects of complaint filed before the Ombudsman by Councilor Evangeline Dorao.

By operation of law, Councilor Joshua Viray, who topped the election for council, assumed as acting mayor of Asingan. The acting vice mayor is Mel Lopez, who placed second in the last council election.

Ombudsman for Luzon Gerald Mosqueda and Ombudsman Conchita Morales signed the decision suspending Chua and Lopez for one year without pay.

Chua and Lopez said, however, that the fight is not yet over as they filed a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the anti-graft.

Both said through lawyers that the one-year suspension is too harsh for a simple misconduct. (Leonardo Micua)

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