An administrative case for dereliction of duty, misconduct and abuse of authority has been filed against the barangay council of Sta. Cruz in Virac over a completed cell site tower, the construction of which complaints say was not consulted with affected constituents.
Filed at the Sangguniang Bayan last June 29, 2026, the verified complaint alleged that Punong Barangay Maria Criste V. Socito, barangay kagawads Allan James L. Talan, Nelson S. Marzo, Rosario P. Marzo, Jorge de Leon II, Joselito Tabirara, Froilan M. Mendoza, and Emmanuel M. de Leon, together with SK chairman Alfhonz Cedrc B. Balmadrid, issued a barangay clearance on Oct. 28, 2025 stating that the barangay council does not object to the construction of the tower by EDOTCO Tower, Inc. on the property of Danilo Co.
A similar clearance for the construction of a perimeter fence was also issued by the barangay council on Jan. 29, 2026.
Both clearances were issued by the concerned officials without conducting public consultation or a hearing to get the consent of residents including those residing just meters away from the tower.
The respondents committed dereliction of duty or gross negligence for their failure to protect the interests and welfare of the residents by skipping public hearings and issuing the certificates of no-objection despite the non-fulfilment of the procedural requirement of public consultation may be construed as acting beyond their authority.
As the steel tower was being constructed on or about Feb, 25, 2026, the nine complainants – Ruben Aguilar, Dr. Maria Susana Abrina, Engr. Beverly Camacho, Zenaida Matias, Maria Dina Buenafe, Ben Estrellado, Dolores Sarmiento, Lony Franz Tolledo and Jose de Leon Jr. – together with other residents filed a petition before the Office of the Mayor through the office of the municipal engineer seeking the immediate stoppage of the construction.
The petitioners’ strong opposition was based on the grounds of violation of due process and lack of genuine public consultation and transparency, as the barangay consultative dialogue was conducted only on Feb, 26, 2026 in the presence of selected residents when construction was already at almost 80 percent.
The residents had no idea that the cell site would be constructed on the private lot, as the building permit issued on Feb. 5 was posted only on Feb. 22, misleading the public about its true scope and purpose.