By Nimfa L. Estrellado Mayor Erwin Pastrana (Mayor FB) MAUBAN, Quezon — A major legal disaster from the Office of the Ombudsman struck t...
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| Mayor Erwin Pastrana (Mayor FB) |
MAUBAN, Quezon — A major legal disaster from the Office of the Ombudsman struck the municipal seat Thursday, October 2, 2025. The Office of the Ombudsman officially charged the entire leadership of Mauban, Quezon—including Mayor Erwin Pastrana and the full Sangguniang Bayan —with Grave Abuse of Authority and Graft.
Nineteen barangay (village) chairmen allege local officials illegally imposed a six-month suspension without pay against them, which stripped the villages of leadership and income. They argue the action was a clear case of political retaliation following the Mayor’s victory over the candidate they supported.
Mayor Pastrana responded to the charges by issuing an official statement, denying any personal involvement in the suspension order and deflecting accountability to the legislative body. The statement came hours after the Ombudsman officially confirmed receipt and docketing of the multi-party complaint.
The village chiefs, led by Barangay Captain Rodante Almacen, contend that the municipal government grossly violated their right to due process by imposing the suspension without first conducting a mandatory formal hearing and investigation, as required by the Local Government Code (LGC) and prevailing Supreme Court jurisprudence.
In addition to the administrative complaint, the officials face criminal charges for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The graft complaint specifically targets the alleged use of public funds to hire a private counsel to draft the formal complaint and the subsequent resolution that ordered the barangay chiefs’ suspension.
The complainants stress that the ongoing legal battle is critical to restoring uninterrupted public services in the affected villages. They argue that the lengthy suspension has severely hampered local governance and the distribution of essential aid, leaving thousands of residents currently underserved. The case is expected to test the limits of municipal power over lower-level elected officials under the Local Government Code.
The administrative and criminal charges follow the definitive dismissal of election challenges against the Mayor and his allies, after the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 64, rejected protests from losing candidate Fernando Q. Llamas and other opposition figures, citing a lack of basis to overturn the election results.
While expressing confidence that the SB followed "all procedures set by the Local Government Code, particularly on due process," Pastrana expressed regret that his name was dragged into "baseless complaints" despite his lack of participation. He then challenged the complainants, stating: "It would be better if the suspended officials face the complaints against them with courage and accountability and focus on performing their duties, so as not to harm the service and welfare of their constituents."
Named in the complaint were Mayor Bautista Erwin Dwight Pastrana, Vice Mayor Alween Sardea, and all Sangguniang Bayan Members: Nathaniel Calucin, Abelardo Mandrique, Michael Diasanta, Raquel Almacen, Yolanda Santayana, Juan Lorenzo Pastrana, Edgardo Astoveza, Liza Mandrique, Julieto Espinas, and Marlon Luna. Mayor Pastrana and two other officials face specific graft charges related to the hiring of the private counsel, who has also been administratively charged for Gross Ignorance of the Law.
The crux of the Grave Abuse of Authority charge rests on the question of the Municipal Council's power to discipline elected barangay officials. The authority to investigate and prosecute such cases typically resides first with the Office of the Ombudsman or the Provincial Board. Under the Local Government Code, the Sangguniang Bayan is the body empowered to hear and decide administrative cases against elected barangay officials and can impose the penalty of suspension. However, the LGC strictly limits the imposition of penalties and requires a formal investigation and hearing—procedures the complainants claim were skipped.
The complainants argue that this constitutes graft because a local government unit is generally prohibited by Commission on Audit (COA) Circulars and Supreme Court decisions from hiring private lawyers for services that should be rendered by the Municipal Legal Officer, especially when the service is sought to discipline lower officials.
"I want to clarify the issue regarding the reported 'suspension' of the Barangay Chairmen of Mauban," the Mayor said. "I emphasize that your servant has never participated or concurred in the said imposition of the penalty of suspension."
He maintained that the suspension decision was "a product of the free determination of our Sangguniang Bayan (SB), which is the sole authority under the law to hear and resolve administrative cases against elected barangay officials." Pastrana added that as Mayor, he "respects the scope of the SB's authority and does not interfere in matters they alone must decide."
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