Pangasinan mayor suspended over fish cage permit push
SUAL, PANGASINAN—Mayor Liseldo Calugay has been suspended without pay for three months by the Office of the Ombudsman over a case of simple misconduct, following allegations that he endorsed the fish cage application of his executive assistant.
The suspension stemmed from Calugay’s support for an application submitted by Cheryl Ordonia Medina, his executive assistant, to operate 15 fish cages in the town’s municipal waters under the name “Dee Aqua Farm.”
Signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on April 21, the order was released and took effect on May 5 upon receipt by the Sual local government.
Calugay, who is running for reelection, had been linked to former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who was dismissed from office by the Ombudsman in August 2024 in connection with illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). The Sual mayor, who appeared in Senate hearings related to Pogos, had denied any business ties or romantic relationship with Guo.
The Ombudsman complaint against Calugay was filed by Michael Abata, who accused the mayor of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service as he claimed the endorsement was “unlawful and unethical.”
Abata said the municipal council would not have approved the application without Calugay’s endorsement. A former mayor said the council was composed of Calugay’s political allies at the time.
While the Ombudsman dismissed the charge of grave misconduct, it ruled that Calugay’s actions constituted simple misconduct, noting that “the element of corruption has not been sufficiently established.”
The case, filed on Feb. 7, 2024, alleged that Medina’s application lacked important documents, including an environmental compliance certificate from the Environmental Management Bureau, a certificate of suitability from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and registration from the municipal agriculture office.
No special treatment
But in a sworn affidavit on Feb. 25, 2024, Calugay defended his actions, saying the endorsement was merely “a formal referral of an application” and did not imply special treatment.
However, the Ombudsman concluded that Calugay’s endorsement, made in his official capacity, likely influenced the municipal council to grant Medina at least a provisional permit, stating the application “would not have been approved” otherwise.
Medina has also been suspended in connection with the case.
Further scrutiny revealed that Calugay also endorsed the applications of four other fish cage operators—AC Aqua Farm, Licsel Fish Farm, Donguo Fish Farm and Guco Aqua Farm—each seeking to operate 15 cages.
These applications were similarly approved by the municipal council despite lacking key regulatory permits, as shown in the local legislative body’s Resolution No. 2022-243.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Calugay’s legal team said they were “exhausting all legal remedies in relation to the decision” of the Ombudsman.
Calugay’s lawyers said they already filed a petition asking the Court of Appeals to revoke the suspension order and issue a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction.
