The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension for nine months of over 20 employees of the Mandaue City Hall.

The suspension is in line with a demolition on a private property in Barangay Paknaan that was questioned by the owner. 

In a desire to clean up a waterway leading to a river to avert further flooding incidents, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Mandaue City in 2023 ordered the clearing of a portion of the property in Sitio Pagatpatan, Barangay Paknaan.

Relocation of residents in the vicinity was also ordered for their supposed safety.

The person who claimed ownership to the lot complained on the padlocking of the disputed property.

However, officials said that the City Government of Mandaue owns the lot.

The lot owner filed several cases following the incident.

The Ombudsman found probable cause to indict the employees for violation of Section 3e of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. This is to "give undue injury" because of the incident.

On February 7, 2025, the Ombudsman released the suspension order against 26 employees of the Mandaue City Hall for nine months.

One of the 26 workers is the assistant city assessor, Atty. Julius Caesar Entise.

“The notice to demolish was addressed to the head of the Office of the Building Official [OBO]. Nangutana pa lang ang Ombudsman giunsa pagkahitabo nganong naa mi didto, matubag unta ni namo. OBO does not have a demolition team of its own in so far as Mandaue City is concerned, it is the HUDO [Housing and Urban Development Organization] that is authorized by a city ordinance,” Entise said.

On February 10, 2025, the LGU has implemented the order.

The decision has hurt Entise, as he thinks about the job order employees.

“Sakit pamalandungon, nine months is nine months, okay lang siguro namo kay we can practice our profession pero ang kani intawong job order employees, they earn a living on a day-to-day basis unya kulban sa ku’n,” Entise pointed out.

Entise said their camp is set to submit before the Ombudsman a motion for reconsideration.