Camille Naredo

Vice Mayor Justin Colago takes his oath as Acting Mayor of San Pablo City, July 14, 2026. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

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SAN PABLO

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784016302429viber_image_2026-07-14_15-54-06-638.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Vice Mayor Justin Colago takes his oath as Acting Mayor of San Pablo City, July 14, 2026. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News"/>Vice Mayor Justin Colago takes his oath as Acting Mayor of San Pablo City, July 14, 2026. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</div>SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna — Vice Mayor Justin Colago has officially taken over as Acting Mayor of San Pablo City, following the six-month suspension of Mayor Arcadio &quot;Najie&quot; Gapangada Jr. ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman.Gapangada surrendered the mayor&#x27;s post after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the suspension order before 11 a.m. Tuesday. The order was received by the mayor&#x27;s secretary.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/7/14/dilg-to-serve-ombudsman-s-6-month-suspension-order-on-san-pablo-city-mayor-1240">READ: DILG to serve Ombudsman&#x27;s 6-month suspension order on San Pablo City, Laguna mayor</a></div>The suspended mayor said he will immediately file a Motion for Reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman, insisting that his suspension violated his right to due process.&quot;Atin pong tinanggap at tayo po ay magpapafile na lang ng motion for reconsideration para naman po marectify na hindi naman po karapatdapat yung ginawang pagsususpinde sa atin. Basta na lang po ako sinilbihan  ng suspension without due process,&quot; Gapangada said.His legal team is also considering filing a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) before the Court of Appeals.On Tuesday afternoon, Colago took his oath as acting mayor before Regional Trial Court Branch 32 Judge Ronaldo Tugonon. First Councilor Carmela Acebedo was also sworn in as Acting Vice Mayor.Colago was the complainant in the administrative case filed before the Ombudsman on June 26, 2026, 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 stemmed from the alleged hiring of numerous job order employees who were reportedly receiving salaries exceeding ₱100,000 a month without undergoing the required approval process.&quot;Over na over yung salary na pasweldo niya sa mga job orders. Talagang hindi lang isa, hindi lang dalawa, nasa more than 20-plus. Ang sweldo ay nagkakahalaga ng 100,000  at  may lumalampas pa, may 110,000,&quot; Colago alleged.He added that the appointments allegedly lacked the required contracts and approval from the Sangguniang Panlungsod.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/7/13/thousands-rally-behind-san-pablo-laguna-mayor-amid-ombudsman-suspension-order-2000">READ: Thousands rally behind San Pablo, Laguna mayor amid Ombudsman suspension order</a></div>Gapangada, however, denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that all of his appointees underwent the proper human resources selection process and were compensated based on their qualifications and capabilities.&quot;Lahat po ng aking mga appointees ay nagdaan sa atin pong HR, sa selection process at hindi po sila sumweldo ng hindi ayon sa kanilang kakayahan&quot; the suspended mayor said.As acting mayor, Colago vowed to conduct a comprehensive review of Gapangada&#x27;s appointments and ordered department heads to examine and revoke questionable job order contracts if necessary.&quot;Uusisiain ko, rereviewhin ko ang iba pa hong pagkakamali. This is the time that I will call the attention of all the department heads to revoke all these JOs or job orders,&quot;  the acting mayor said.Gapangada, meanwhile, claimed that politics was behind his suspension, alleging it was a retaliation after defeating a long-established political dynasty in San Pablo City.&quot;Politics po ang primary reason  kapag tinalo  po natin yun mga higante dito sa lungsod ng San Pablo, a dynasty which has been existing for more than 30 years&quot; Gapangada asserted.Colago strongly denied the allegation.&quot;Kailanman ho ay hindi tayo titingin ng political color ng bawat isa,&quot; he said.Gapangada also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to act on the complaint he filed on April 26, 2026, accusing Colago of malversation and graft for allegedly having more than 200 ghost employees.

Vice Mayor Justin Colago has officially taken over as Acting Mayor of San Pablo City, following the six-month suspension of Mayor Arcadio "Najie" Gapangada Jr. ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Vice Mayor Justin Colago has officially taken over as Acting Mayor of San Pablo City, following the six-month suspension of Mayor Arcadio "Najie" Gapangada Jr. ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman.

San Pablo's acting mayor takes oath; suspended mayor seeks reversal

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San Pablo's acting mayor takes oath; suspended mayor seeks reversal

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 14, 2026 04:06 PM PHT

Read More:

San Pablo

DILG

Justin Colago

Arcadio "Najie" Gapangada Jr.

Ombudsman

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