Ombudsman orders Agusan del Norte mayor, 2 others suspended over disconnection of electrical lines

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the one-month suspension of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte Mayor Demosthenes Arabaca in connection with his role in the alleged illegal disconnection of electrical lines of several households in Barangay Caloc-an in 2013.

In a nine-page decision, the Ombudsman found Arabaca guilty of simple misconduct because the disconnection order was made without any valid authority.  

The Ombudsman said the mayor acted beyond his authority since the Sangguniang Bayan of Magallanes did not give any of the municipal officials the power to disconnect electrical lines in the ordinances it had passed.

The Ombudsman also ordered the suspension of Municipal Engineer Jerry Delicano and Fire Marshall Pablo Tresfuentes. — BAP, GMA News