Minglanilla’s top officials, including Mayor Rajiv Enad and Vice Mayor Lani Peña, are set to serve a one-year suspension without pay.
The decision, issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, stems from allegations of administrative lapses related to permits tied to public safety concerns.
Alongside the mayor and vice mayor, several municipal councilors are included in the suspension order. Among them are Jay-R Dela Calzada, Jongjong Adlawan Jr., Jesus “Boyet” Velez, Jerry Cañares, Jimmy Caumeran, Jenny Young, Jenifer Lariosa, Prose Laput, Petronilo Traya, and Rick Ryan Zafra.
The controversy centers on Sitio Napo in Barangay Guindarohan, where ground cracks raised alarms over potential landslide risks.
Residents in the area have long expressed concern about the structural stability of their community, and municipal assessments confirmed that the fissures posed a significant safety hazard.
Mayor Enad addressed the public regarding the suspension, framing it as part of the challenges inherent in governance.
“If this is the price of doing what’s right for my people, I will stand firm,” he said.
The mayor also expressed respect for the Ombudsman’s processes and vowed to explore all legal avenues to contest the preventive suspension.
During the officials’ temporary absence, Enad’s wife and first councilor, Lheslen Enad, will act as mayor, while Councilor Mulot Laput will serve as acting vice mayor.
The municipal council, however, will operate with several vacant seats unless formal replacements are legally appointed.
The case originated from complaints filed by private businesses associated with the Jomara Group of Companies, including Jomara Konstruct Corporation, Jomara Agrifoods and Supply Corporation, and Mega Pacific Landfill Resources Corporation.
In late 2024, company owner Josue Lapitan claimed that municipal leaders, led by Mayor Enad, had delayed and denied key permits, alleging violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Lapitan further contended that Enad influenced then-Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to reject a quarry application submitted by his family.
Enad countered these allegations, maintaining that all municipal decisions were guided by safety concerns, particularly the ground instability observed in Sitio Napo.
He also cited compliance gaps and unmet obligations on the part of the businesses involved, noting that the municipal actions were preventive in nature.
The preventive suspension, lasting one year, was formally delivered to the officials at the Municipal Session Hall.
Mayor Enad clarified that the suspension is unrelated to Minglanilla’s recent refusal to accept waste from Cebu City, a decision he took to safeguard the municipality’s water sources and environment.
He reiterated that municipal services would remain uninterrupted despite the administrative sanctions, emphasizing that governance is about prioritizing residents’ welfare over convenience.
Residents’ concerns about environmental risks, including water contamination from nearby landfill operations, were cited as justifications for the town’s strict regulatory actions.
Enad concluded with a message to the people of Minglanilla:
“Public service is about making difficult decisions guided by what is right, even when the consequences are personal. Safety and welfare will always come first.” (SBA)
