By Eva Visperas
URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan – The mayor and vice mayor of this city were suspended for 12 months due to serious charges of grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority.
The decision, issued by the Office of the President on January 3, 2025, follows a complaint filed by Michael Brian M. Perez, the Punong Barangay of San Vicente, against Mayor Julio F. Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy D. Parayno.
The case, docketed as OP-DC Case No. 22-K-090, stems from a June 15, 2022 incident in which Mayor Parayno issued an indefinite suspension order against Perez. The mayor’s decision was based on a manifesto signed by 33 out of 34 Punong Barangays in Urdaneta City, calling for Perez’s removal from his position as President of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) and his seat as an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Perez sought clarification and intervention from the Office of the National President of the LNB, the Office of the Provincial Board in Lingayen, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The Office of the President’s decision, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, by authority of the President, found both officials guilty of grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority, resulting in a six-month suspension for each offense. The combined 12-month suspension is set to take effect immediately after it was served on January 7.
The dispositive portion of the Malacañang decision stated that: “Wherefore, this Office finds both Mayor Julio F. Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy D. Parayno administratively liable for grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority, and hereby SUSPENDED from office for a period of six (6) months for each offense, or a total of twelve (12) months, provided that the penalty of suspension shall not exceed their unexpired term, effective upon receipt of this Decision.”
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office 1, headed by Regional Director Jonathan Leusen, issued a memorandum on January 7, 2025, for the immediate implementation of the suspension.
The DILG regional director has authorized, in a letter, Atty. Leovigildo B. Bungubung Jr. and Atty. Michael John F. Borja to enforce the suspension.
Despite the ruling, Mayor Julio Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno have remained silent regarding the decision, with the mayor declining to comment, citing legal advice.