COPS BAR SUSPENDED URDANETA CITY MAYOR, VICE-MAYOR FROM CITY HALL

March 15, 2025 Headlines

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan

Policemen aiding Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 1 chief Jonathan Paul Leusen massed up around the Urdaneta City hall in Pangasinan early Friday morning to bar suspended Mayor Julio Parayno III and vice mayor Jimmy Parayno from
entering their offices. DILG Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla on Thursday, March 13, 2025, directed the DILG Region 1 to prevent the
defiant mayor and vice-mayor from holding on to their posts citing the January 3, 2025 one year suspension order of Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin of the Office of the President (OP) for administrative liability after they were found guilty of Grave Misconduct and Grave Abuse of Authority.

The suspension stemmed from the complaint of barangay captain Michael Brian M. Perez on October 28, 2022 against the Paraynos. But the suspended Mayor defied Malacanang and insisted his suspension was not proper as he did not sign any order, as he was on leave when such was served at his office. The Office of the Provincial Government though clarified that there was no approved leave for Parayno.
Parayno III even claimed that the suspension order falls within the election ban.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) later stated that the suspension did not violate any COMELEC guidelines, thus proclaiming the
suspension order legal. But these developments, Parayno continued to assume functions and even issued executive orders and signed
documents and transactions. In an interview with Remulla earlier in Baguio, he claimed they notified concerned agencies and institutions informing them of the status of the suspended officials. He also said they are gathering evidences for cases possible to be filed against the defiant Parayno. At 4:00 AM Friday, the police escorting Leusen were briefed including himself Ilocos region police director Brigadier General Lou Evangelista and Pangasinan Police Provincial
Director Rollyfer Capoquian.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN