Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<p>SAN PABLO, Laguna — San Pablo City has a new acting mayor after the Office of the Ombudsman also suspended the acting mayor who had been serving for only two weeks following the earlier suspension of the city’s elected mayor.</p><p>First Councilor Carmela Acebedo officially assumed office as acting mayor on Monday after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the six-month <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/1/san-pablo-city-laguna-vice-mayor-preventively-suspended-0034">preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Vice Mayor Justin Colago.</a></p><p>Acebedo had previously served as acting vice mayor after <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/7/14/san-pablo-s-acting-mayor-takes-oath-suspended-mayor-seeks-reversal-1606">Colago assumed the post of Acting City Mayor on July 14, 2026</a>, when Mayor Najie Gapangada Jr. was placed under a six-month preventive suspension.</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>Colago’s suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by Gapangada before the Ombudsman, <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">accusing the vice mayor of maintaining ghost employees.</a></p><p>In an Order dated July 22, 2026, signed by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, the Office found sufficient grounds to place Colago under preventive suspension while he faces charges of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.</p><p>The Ombudsman ruled that there was strong evidence indicating Colago’s possible liability and said his continued stay in office could prejudice the investigation and compromise the preservation of documents and other evidence related to the case.</p><p>Meanwhile, Mayor Gapangada remains under a six-month preventive suspension over a separate complaint filed by Colago, alleging the mayor hired highly paid job order employees and reassigned department heads without following proper procedures. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE STORIES:</strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/9/san-pablo-city-mayor-appeals-to-marcos-sec-dizon-to-complete-long-delayed-bypass-road-1937">San Pablo City mayor appeals to Marcos, Dizon to complete long-delayed bypass road </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/12/3/san-pablo-city-mayor-vice-mayor-clash-over-christmas-gift-funds-1525">&#x27;Noche Buena war&#x27;: San Pablo City mayor, vice clash over Christmas gift funds </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/14/dpwh-chief-vows-completion-of-long-delayed-alaminos-san-pablo-bypass-road-by-december-2010">DPWH chief vows completion of long-delayed Alaminos–San Pablo bypass road by December</a></div><div><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/0TgpNdokiLY?&amp;pp=0gcJCaMLAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/iZCrrwnI_x4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>San Pablo City has a new acting mayor after the Office of the Ombudsman also suspended the acting mayor who had been serving for only two weeks following the earlier suspension of the city’s elected mayor.</p>

San Pablo City has a new acting mayor after the Office of the Ombudsman also suspended the acting mayor who had been serving for only two weeks following the earlier suspension of the city’s elected mayor.

San Pablo City gets third leader in weeks as Ombudsman suspends acting mayor

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San Pablo City gets third leader in weeks as Ombudsman suspends acting mayor

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 04, 2026 10:47 AM PHT

Read More:

san pablo city

laguna

suspension

ombudsman

acting mayor carmela acebedo

vice mayor justin colago

mayor najie gapangada

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