By Hilda Austria
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed top officials of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan from government service.
Based on the Office of the Ombudsman’s April 15, 2026 decision, Mayor Julio Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno were dismissed for grave misconduct, and councilors Franco Paolo Del Prado Sr., Warren Andrada, Aurelio Agsalud, Franklin Villanueva, Jhan Hero Sumera and Alfonso Del Prado were dismissed for gross neglect of duty.
Lawyer Gerald Gallardo, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Pangasinan, confirmed in a phone interview Friday that the decision was served on the respondents or their representatives.
He also confirmed that Bles Sumera was sworn in as mayor and Rio Esteves as vice mayor, while the replacements for members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) have yet to be named.
“They may file for a motion for reconsideration (MR) or appeal the decision, but pending the MR or appeal, the implementation of the decision of the Ombudsman will continue unless there is a temporary restraining order or suspension of the implementation of the decision, but as of now, there is none,” he said.
Regarding vacancies at the city council, Gallardo said that because the dismissed councilors have no political party affiliation, the remaining council members could recommend any qualified person to fill the vacant positions, transmit the recommendation, and the governor will issue an appointment, in accordance with the Local Government Code for filling permanent vacancies.
Aside from dismissal from service, the Ombudsman also cancelled their eligibility, disqualified from holding public office, barred from taking civil service examinations and forfeited their retirement benefits, pursuant to Section 63(A), Rule 10 of the 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.
The dismissal stemmed from the illegal dismissal complaint filed by Michael Brian Perez, president of Liga ng mga Barangay, against the Paraynos in 2022. The DILG ruled in Perez’s favor.
In January 2025, former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued a 12-month suspension against the Paraynos, but they defied the order.
