In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeals (CA) Fourth Division has issued a writ of preliminary injunction (WPI) that enables eight previously suspended members of the Antique provincial board to continue their public service roles. The decision came just in time, as it was issued on December 18, 2024, a day before the expiration of a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) that had been in place since November 7 of the previous year.
Board Member Alfie Jay Niquia, speaking during the board’s first regular session of the year on January 6, 2025, confirmed that the board members would continue their duties despite the TRO’s lapse on January 7, thanks to the new WPI. The other board members affected by the suspension, which was ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman, include Egidio Elio, Rony Molina, Victor Condez, Plaridel Sanchez, Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao, Kenneth Dave Gasalao, and Julius Cezar Tajanlangit.
The suspension stemmed from administrative complaints accusing the board members of gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, and grave abuse of authority. These charges led to their preventive suspension effective from August 1, 2024. However, the CA reinstated them on November 7, arguing that continuing the Ombudsman’s suspension would unjustly deprive the Antique electorate of their chosen representatives.
The CA’s decision to issue the WPI was based on the need to prevent grave and irreparable injury to the petitioners while the main action or petition remains unresolved. This ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing administrative accountability with the rights of elected officials and their constituents.