Governor guilty of Grave Misconduct and Abuse of Authority Suspended for another 6 months

Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado is served a suspension for another 6 months after he was suspended for one year last year as he was found guilty of oppression and grave abuse of authority.

The extension of the suspension, according to the Office of the Ombudsman is because Tallado is administratively liable for ‘Disgraceful and Immoral Conduct’ over a widely circulated sex video and nude photos with his alleged mistress.

Just this September 22, the Ombudsman also ordered Tallado dismissed after he was found guilty of Grave Misconduct and Oppression/Abuse of Authority with the aggravating circumstance of recidivism, while the Provincial Human Resource Management Officer Magdalena Toledana is suspended for 3 months without pay due to Simple Neglect of Duty.

This is from the complaint a year ago that was filed by Milline Marie Dela Cruz, Mark Anthony Mago, Maria Joanabelle Crisostomo, and Shanta Baraquiel. They claimed that through a memorandum, Tallado invalidated their appointments as permanent provincial employees.

The lawyer of the four said that the Governor harassed the employees, right after he was reassigned in office following the complaint, he deliberately assigned the four employees to far-flung places. One was even pregnant and the other one has just given birth.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bicol Regional Director Elouisa Pastor served the suspension order Monday afternoon, but the Governor was not around. The DILG Officials were directed to the Provincial Legal Office as ordered by the Governor.

“Ang nag-receive ay staff ng legal officer, wala naman pong problema yun kasi may instruction naman si Governor na i-receive na. Ibig sabihin walang resistance yun,”

Vice Governor Jonah Pimentel will serve as the Acting Governor, while Board Member Mike Canlas will serve as the Acting Vice Governor of Camarines Norte. [source]