Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

LAGUNA — Thousands of supporters of San Pablo City, Laguna Mayor Arcadio &quot;Najie&quot; Gapangada Jr. gathered at City Hall on Monday morning to demonstrate their unwavering support after the Office of the Ombudsman reportedly issued a six-month suspension order against the local chief executive.Reports of the suspension first surfaced on Friday. The order stemmed from an administrative complaint filed by Vice Mayor Jose Justin Colago, accusing Gapangada of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and oppression.The complaint allegedly arose from Mayor Gapangada&#x27;s hiring of job order employees, some of whom were reportedly receiving salaries of as much as P100,000.The Human Resources Division of San Pablo City Hall received the suspension order last Thursday.Mayor Gapangada questioned the manner in which the suspension was issued, insisting that he was never formally informed that a complaint had been filed against him before the Ombudsman.&quot;Ang pagkakaalam ko dito sa ating bansa, hindi lang po yung mayor kundi lahat ng mamamayan ay entitled na malaman niya kung ano ang inaakusa sa kaniya, kung bakit siya ay kailangang suspendihin o tanggalin o parusahan. Eh tayo po ay walang ni isang notice na ganoon,&quot; Gapangada said.&quot;Wala naman ako ng criminal offense. Wala ring sinabi na ako ay nagnakaw ng kahit isang pera,&quot; he added.Gapangada also expressed disbelief over the speed of the Ombudsman&#x27;s action. He noted that the complaint filed by Colago on June 26, 2026, resulted in a suspension order just a week later, on July 3.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/27/san-pablo-laguna-vice-mayor-faces-malversation-graft-raps-over-ghost-employees-1729">San Pablo, Laguna vice mayor faces malversation, graft raps over &#x27;ghost employees&#x27;</a></div>In contrast, Gapangada said his own complaint against Colago—filed before the Ombudsman on April 26, 2026, for alleged malversation and graft involving more than 200 supposed ghost employees—has yet to receive any action.&quot;Sa halip na tayo po ang bigyan ng aksyon doon sa aking hiniling na siya ay masuspinde, magkaroon po ng preventive suspension, ay tayo po ang binigyan ng suspension sa napakaikling panahon ng kaniyang pagpafile,&quot; the mayor said.&quot;Nag-file po ng June 26, July 3 po may aksyon na. Makababalaghan po ang pangyayaring ito,&quot; he added.Meanwhile, DILG Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Iglesia said their office has not yet received any official order implementing Mayor Gapangada&#x27;s suspension.Gapangada maintained that he remains the city&#x27;s mayor but said he is prepared to temporarily step down if the suspension order is proven to be valid. He also confirmed that his legal team is preparing to file a motion for reconsideration.The mayor appealed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to personally examine the circumstances surrounding the suspension order.&quot;Malaki pong hiwaga yun, malaking kwestyon, at ako po ay nananawagan kay Ombudsman Remulla na kung maaari po ay silipin. At kung ako po ay may kasalanan, handa po akong bumaba sa aking tungkulin,&quot; he said.Gapangada also called on his fellow members of the Mayors for Good Governance to stand by him.&quot;Sa lahat po ng kasapi naming sa Mayors for Good Governance, samahan n&#x27;yo po ako na ipagtanggol natin ang aming hanay. Hindi po ito para sa akin lamang kundi sa lahat po ng mayors, na huwag nilang maranasan ang tulad ng aking dinaranas sa hangad na makapaglingkod nang maayos,&quot; he said.Gapangada claimed that the complaint was politically motivated, alleging that Vice Mayor Colago, a known ally of the city&#x27;s former mayor who lost in the last elections, was behind the move.Vice Mayor Colago, however, declined to issue a statement.Gapangada is just one year into his first term in office after ending more than three decades of political rule by the family of the city&#x27;s former mayor.

Thousands of supporters of San Pablo City, Laguna Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr. gathered at City Hall on Monday morning to demonstrate their unwavering support after the Office of the Ombudsman reportedly issued a six-month suspension order against the local chief executive.

Thousands of supporters of San Pablo City, Laguna Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr. gathered at City Hall on Monday morning to demonstrate their unwavering support after the Office of the Ombudsman reportedly issued a six-month suspension order against the local chief executive.

Thousands rally behind San Pablo, Laguna mayor amid Ombudsman suspension order

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Thousands rally behind San Pablo, Laguna mayor amid Ombudsman suspension order

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 13, 2026 08:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Laguna

San Pablo City

suspension

Arcadio Gapangada Jr.

Office of the Ombudsman

Ombudsman

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