Tallado also ordered dismissed for grave abuse of authority

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE – After serving a one-year suspension in 2015 after being found guilty of oppression and grave abuse of authority, Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado is suspended for another six months effective Monday.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Tallado is administratively liable for 'Disgraceful and Immoral Conduct' over a widely circulated sex video and nude photos with his alleged mistress.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bicol Regional Director Elouisa Pastor served the suspension order Monday afternoon, but the Governor was not around. The DILG Officials were directed to the Provincial Legal Office as ordered by the Governor.

“Ang nag-receive ay staff ng legal officer, wala naman pong problema yun kasi may instruction naman si Governor na i-receive na. Ibig sabihin walang resistance yun," said Pastor.

(The legal officer received it, and that does not present any problem because it was the instruction of Governor. That means there is no resistance on his part.)

On September 22, the Ombudsman also ordered Tallado dismissed after he was found guilty of Grave Misconduct and Oppression/Abuse of Authority with the aggravating circumstance of recidivism, while the Provincial Human Resource Management Officer Magdalena Toledana is suspended for 3 months without pay due to Simple Neglect of Duty.

The complaint was filed November 4, 2015 by Milline Marie Dela Cruz, Mark Anthony Mago, Maria Joanabelle Crisostomo, and Shanta Baraquiel. They claimed that through a memorandum, Tallado invalidated their appointments as permanent provincial employees.

According to Atty. Archimedes Yanto, legal counsel of the four complainants, Tallado harassed the employees.

Yanto claimed, when Tallado assumed office, he re-assigned the four employees to other places.

Two were assigned in Tabugon (town of Sta. Elena), in the checkpoint of the quarantine, where they were told to shoot truck wheels with a blowgun while they are employed as administrative officer at the Treasurer's Office and as technician at the Provincial Veterinary.

Two others were nurses from the Provincial Hospital but were sent to the far-flung Capalonga Medical Hospital. One was pregnant, while another had just given birth.

Yanto added, this should serve as wake up call to all elected government officials to always follow the law.

Tallado’s camp thru Atty. Marcelo Adan Botor sai the governor will release a statement later because there are things that he has to consider before facing the press.

Asked regarding the dismissal order, Pastor said they have not received a copy of the latest Ombudsman order.

Vice Governor Jonah Pimentel will serve as the Acting Governor, while Board Member Mike Canlas will serve as the Acting Vice Governor of Camarines Norte.