SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Tobias Fornier Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III for abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a public official effective immediately for six months. The office of Tajanlangit received the suspension order signed by Office of the Ombudsman officer-in-charge Jose Balmeo Jr. dated Sept. 11, 2024, on Thursday. 'Pursuant to Section 24 of Republic Act 6770, in relation to Section 9, Rule III of the Administrative Order Number 17, he (Tajanlangit) is preventively suspended without pay until the administrative adjudication of the case is terminated,' Balmeo stated in his order. Tajanlangit, in a media interview, said his lawyer is now preparing an appeal. 'I voluntarily step down following the suspension order, but my lawyer is now studying my appeal or legal remedy,' he said on Thursday. The suspension stemmed from the complaint filed by Vice Mayor Jose Maria Fornier for abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official, grave mi sconduct, and violation of Republic Act 6713 for the physical injuries allegedly inflicted by the mayor. Tajanlangit reportedly punched the vice-mayor in his face following a dispute on the distribution of family food packs to their El Niño-affected residents last April 29. Fornier will be temporarily sitting as mayor of Tobias Fornier until Tajanlangit's suspension order is lifted. Source: Philippines News agency