BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Government, through the City Legal Office (CLO), has filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against the barangay captain of Barangay 16 over an alleged road obstruction along Palanca Road.
City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu confirmed in a media interview on May 29 that the complaints were filed against Punong Barangay Jason Ligaya for allegedly installing a vending car wash facility on a public sidewalk and failing to keep a section of Palanca Road free from illegal structures.
The complaints include allegations of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Chiu said the CLO conducted a road-clearing operation along Palanca Road in July 2025, removing obstructions from public spaces. However, he claimed that shortly after the operation, the barangay captain allegedly allowed the construction of a car wash facility in the same area.
According to Chiu, the CLO issued notices in March 2026 directing Ligaya to remove the structure, but the orders were allegedly ignored.
“We expect barangay officials to help the city enforce road-clearing regulations and remove obstructions. In this case, the barangay captain himself is being accused of putting up an obstruction on a public road,” Chiu said.
He added that Ligaya would still be given an opportunity to voluntarily remove the facility. Otherwise, the city government may conduct its own clearing operation.
Chiu said the filing of the complaints forms part of the city government’s efforts to strictly enforce road-clearing policies and ensure accountability among public officials.
For his part, Ligaya questioned why he had become the first barangay official to face legal action despite what he described as the continued presence of numerous road obstructions across Bacolod City.
In a separate radio interview, Ligaya maintained that the vending car wash should not be considered an obstruction, arguing that it is situated within a gutter area that falls within the boundary of a private alcoholic beverage company and not directly on the roadway.
He also said the income generated by the car wash has been used to fund community programs and provide assistance to residents, particularly amid limited barangay resources.
The barangay captain expressed surprise over the complaint, claiming that he had not received any formal warning or notice regarding the alleged violation.
Despite this, Ligaya said he is prepared to face any legal proceedings arising from the complaint and would comply if authorities ultimately order the removal of the facility.
Meanwhile, the CLO has called on barangay officials throughout the city to ensure that roads previously cleared of obstructions remain free from illegal structures.
The appeal came following the filing of the administrative and criminal complaints against Ligaya.
Chiu said the office had issued two notices concerning the alleged obstruction caused by the vending car wash, which he claimed is owned by the barangay captain.
The CLO chief urged barangay leaders to cooperate with city authorities in maintaining public roads and preventing the return of illegal structures, stressing that the city’s road-clearing campaign is intended to promote public safety and ensure the proper use of government roadways./PN
