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DISMISSED. The Office of the Ombudsman orders the dismissal of Urdaneta Mayor Julio 'Rammy'Parayno III and several other local officials.
Photo courtesy of Parayno Facebook Page
The penalties include the cancellation of civil service eligibility, permanent disqualification from public office, a ban on taking civil service exams, and forfeiture of retirement benefits
PANGASINAN, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Urdaneta City Mayor Julio “Rammy” Parayno III, Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno, and six city councilors for defying a Malacañang suspension order against the city’s top two officials.
In a consolidated decision dated April 15, the Ombudsman found the Paraynos guilty of grave misconduct for continuing to perform their duties despite a 12-month suspension ordered by the Office of the President in January 2025.
The six councilors were found liable for gross neglect of duty for refusing to assume the posts assigned to them by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The penalties include cancellation of civil service eligibility, perpetual disqualification from public office, a ban on taking civil service examinations, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Paraynos continued working despite suspension
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a barangay chairman, Michael Brian Perez, in October 2022. He was placed under indefinite suspension that June, after a manifesto sought his removal as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB), a post that automatically made him an ex-officio nenver of the city council.
Perez alleged the national LnB and the DILG both backed him, and that the DILG found no legal basis for his suspension.
On January 3, 2025, Malacañang found the Paraynos liable for grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority and ordered their suspension for six months each, or a total of 12 months. It then directed the DILG to implement the order.
But when DILG personnel attempted to serve the suspension documents on January 7, the mayor’s staff refused to receive them, while the vice mayor’s office was locked and chained. This prompted the DILG to post copies of the order on the office doors.
The Paraynos subsequently argued that they had not been personally served and questioned the enforcement of the suspension order during that year’s election period.
The Ombudsman, however, cited a subsequent court ruling that upheld the posting of the documents as constructive service.
The decision also cited Mayor Parayno’s continued exercise of official functions, including signing disbursement vouchers, issuing a business permit, and attending a flag-raising ceremony with the vice mayor.
The Ombudsman rejected the officials’ claim of good faith, finding that their refusal to receive the orders and continued performance of their duties constituted intentional wrongdoing.
The Paraynos stepped aside on March 31, 2025, after the DILG designated councilors Rio Virgilio Esteves and Blesildo Sumera as acting mayor and vice mayor.
Both Paraynos were reelected in May 2025.
Councilors refused to take over
Six councilors were found liable for refusing DILG orders designating them to temporarily replace the suspended officials.
The DILG initially designated Franco Paolo Del Prado and Warren Andrada, followed by Aurelio Agsalud and Franklin Villanueva.
The orders were later issued to Jhan Hero Sumera and Alfonso Miguel Del Prado, who formally declined the appointments in a joint letter dated March 25, 2025, arguing that there were no vacancies to fill.
The Ombudsman found that the councilors deliberately avoided receiving the designation orders and rejected their argument that the case had become moot because city hall operations continued.
Under the Local Government Code, the highest-ranking members of the city council assume the responsibilities of a mayor or vice mayor during a suspension.
The Ombudsman dismissed other charges against the Paraynos, including grave abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public official, and disgraceful and immoral conduct, citing insufficient evidence.
The copy of the decision reviewed bears a certification stamp dated September 28, 2026, and a receiving stamp dated October 13, 2026. It remains unclear whether any of the respondents have appealed or sought reconsideration. – Rappler.com
