Six officials of a barangay in Bangued, Abra were suspended preventively for 90 days over a controversial announcement that showed an image of a gun as penalty for those who violate a rule on throwing trash.

The announcement was printed on a tarpaulin, which showed that the penalty for the first offense is a fine of P1,000 while the penalty for the second offense is a fine of P1,000 and eight hours of community service.

No specific penalty is indicated for the third offense, except for an image of a gun.

A complaint was filed against the officials of Barangay Calaba. The complaint pointed out that the image of the gun is equivalent to a threat to one's life as it may symbolize killing.

The officials denied this during an inquiry by the municipal council on March 11, 2024.

The officials are facing charges for grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty, gross dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Among the six suspended preventively are the chairman, four councilmen, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson.

Only three active officials were not suspended.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said operations of the barangay will continue.

“Ang mangyayari po diyan kasi ‘yung mga resolution ng mga barangay sa pag-determine po ng quorum [ay naka-depend] kung ilan ang active na barangay officials, in that case tatlo lamang sila, ang pag-determine natin ng quorum ay dalawa lamang ang kailangan,” Zotico Gerson Villanueva Jr., the DILG officer in Bangued, said.

Eric Astudillo, the secretary of the municipal council, also said that a preventive suspension is not a penalty but a way to prevent the respondents in a case from influencing possible witnesses.

“Ang preventive suspension ay hindi penalty. Ang purpose nito ay upang hindi maimpluwensyahan ang mga saksi at para hindi masira ang integridad ng mga record at iba pang dokumento,” he said.