Three officials of Barangay 7, Bacolod City were suspended from the government service for simple misconduct.

Barangay Chairman Hercy Sibug and her husband, Councilman Bernabe Sibug, and Barangay Treasurer Edmar Base were suspended for three months without pay, based on an order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

The order was signed by Graft Investigator and Prosecution Officer Marilyn Israel Torres and approved by Deputy Ombudsman-Visayas Dante Vargas.

The three barangay officials received their copy of the document on September 2, 2024.

The order stemmed from a case filed by one Cresenciano Torres.

According to Torres, the said barangay officials borrowed money from him worth P140,000. The money was used reportedly to compensate some officials and workers at the barangay in 2019. The three promised to pay off the debt in a month’s time, but failed to pay past due.

The officials issued a cheque but this was not honored by the bank.

Torres filed cases for estafa, falsification of commercial documents, and usurpation of authority.

The barangay chairman vowed to issue a statement on the issue against her and her husband. 

Councilman Christian Jake Arenas serves as temporary chairman of the said barangay.