In an unexpected turn of events before the first month of 2026 even ends, Municipal Mayor Ma. Gina E. Merilo of Tanauan, Leyte has been ordered suspended for 90 days by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City in connection with a high-profile graft case.
The suspension order, issued this week by the presiding judge of RTC Branch 27, took effect immediately and barred Mayor Merilo from performing the duties and functions of her office for the next three months as the case proceeds through the courts.
The preventive suspension comes on the heels of an Ombudsman indictment filed against Merilo in late 2024 for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) by appointing two losing candidates to government positions shortly after the 2022 elections.
According to Ombudsman findings, Merilo hired Quintin Octa Jr., her former running mate, as a project engineer and Reynalda Almaden as a mobile nurse on July 1, 2022, less than a year after they were defeated in the polls.
The appointments, although classified as job order positions, were deemed to contravene the one-year ban on hiring losing candidates established under existing anti-graft laws.
The Ombudsman’s decision, signed by then-Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Sept. 30, 2024, emphasized that such actions displayed “manifest partiality” and an apparent attempt to circumvent legal restrictions against post-election appointments.
Mayor Merilo has repeatedly defended her actions, stating that she acted in “good faith” based on consultations with town human resources officials and regional representatives of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), who she said had initially supported the hires. Merilo has maintained that the positions filled were temporary and not regular plantilla posts.
Merilo’s legal team is expected to challenge the RTC’s suspension order and continue to contest the charges as the case progresses.
Legal experts note that under Philippine law, a preventive suspension is not a penalty but a procedural measure to avoid undue interference with ongoing investigations and preserve public trust.
The suspension has sparked mixed reactions among Tanauan residents and political observers.
Supporters of the mayor held that she should be allowed to continue serving while she fights the charges in court, while critics argue that the enforcement of accountability measures reinforces the rule of law.
During the mayor’s absence, Vice Mayor Archie Kapunan is expected to assume executive functions as prescribed under local government protocols.
As of this writing, Tanauan’s community leaders and constituents await further rulings, mindful of both the legal implications for Merilo’s political future and broader questions about governance and public accountability at the local level.
Phot Courtesy: Gina E. Merilo FB Page
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