The Office of the Ombudsman has slapped Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Zaldy Ocon with a six-month suspension order for slapping a traffic enforcer who issued him a parking ticket in 2016.
Ocon was found guilty of the administrative offense of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, the Ombudsman media bureau said in a聽Wednesday聽statement.
The Ombudsman also found probable cause to order his indictment for 鈥渟lander by deed,鈥� in violation of Article 359 of the Revised Penal Code.
The case arose from the complaint filed by Ric Emmanuel Agustin, a traffic enforcer of the city鈥檚 Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA).
On Nov. 30, 2016, Ocon was issued a ticket for parking his vehicle in a 鈥渘o-parking zone.鈥� An altercation ensued after the councilor threw away the ticket.
The situation escalated the following day when Ocon slapped Agustin after the latter was invited by RTA chairman Nonito Oclarit to the session hall to settle the issue. The incident was witnessed by RTA overseer Jose Uy, whose agency even issued a 鈥渟tatement of indignation鈥� that further bolstered the case.
In issuing its disciplinary ruling, the Ombudsman said Ocon 鈥渇ailed to live up鈥� to the 鈥渉igh standards of ethics and utmost responsibility in the public service.鈥�
鈥淩ecords show that respondent鈥檚 actuations have tarnished the image of his public office when he slapped the complainant. A public official should avoid any appearance of impropriety affecting the integrity of government services. Every public officer should be an example of integrity and proper behavior,鈥� the Ombudsman said in the ruling./lb