Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17840036519292026071402074_ANCTOA HEADSTART1 071426_frame_22458 (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">San Pablo City, Laguna Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr. denounced the suspension, insisting that he was denied due process because he was never informed that a complaint had been filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.<em> Photo from Gapangada&#x27;s Facebook page </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Iglesia confirmed that his office is now in possession of the suspension order against San Pablo City, Laguna Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr., and is set to serve it Tuesday.</p><p>Iglesia said that Vice Mayor Justin Colago is also scheduled to take his oath today as acting mayor of San Pablo City.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman imposed a six-month suspension on Gapangada over administrative charges of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and oppression.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/7/13/thousands-rally-behind-san-pablo-laguna-mayor-amid-ombudsman-suspension-order-2000">Thousands rally behind San Pablo, Laguna mayor amid Ombudsman suspension order</a></div><p>The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Colago on June 26, 2026, accusing the mayor of stripping career and plantilla officials of their functions, marginalizing them, reassigning them, or bypassing them in the operations of various city offices in favor of job order employees allegedly hired by the mayor. </p><p>Some of these job employees were reportedly receiving salaries of as much as P100,000 each per month.</p><p>Gapangada, however, denounced the suspension, insisting that he was denied due process because he was never informed that a complaint had been filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>He also questioned the speed of the Ombudsman’s action, noting that Colago’s complaint was filed only on June 26, yet the suspension order was issued just days later, on July 3.</p><p>The mayor further expressed disbelief that his own complaint against Colago — filed before the Ombudsman on April 26, 2026, over the alleged hiring of more than 200 ghost employees — has yet to receive any action.</p><p>Gapangada said he will file a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Ombudsman and seek a Temporary Restraining Order from the courts to halt the implementation of the suspension.</p><p>He also appealed to his fellow members of the Mayors for Good Governance to stand with him in what he described as his fight for justice.</p><p>On Monday, hundreds of Gapangada’s supporters gathered outside San Pablo City Hall to protest the Ombudsman’s decision, insisting that the mayor has been the one leading the city’s campaign against corruption. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OTHER NEWS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_fGRfu0oREI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Department of the Interior and Local Government Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Iglesia confirmed that his office is now in possession of the suspension order against San Pablo City, Laguna Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr., and is set to serve it Tuesday.</p>

Department of the Interior and Local Government Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Iglesia confirmed that his office is now in possession of the suspension order against San Pablo City, Laguna Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr., and is set to serve it Tuesday.

DILG to serve Ombudsman's 6-month suspension order on San Pablo City, Laguna mayor

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DILG to serve Ombudsman's 6-month suspension order on San Pablo City, Laguna mayor

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 14, 2026 12:40 PM PHT

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Updated July 14, 2026 01:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Ombudsman

Laguna

San Pablo City

Suspension Order

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