ANTIPOLO CITY: A village official was slapped with criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged abuse of power, after he issued a cease and desist order barring any activity on over a 464,000-square meter private property without prior authority from Barangay San Luis.

A parcel of land owned by Sumulong Tanjuatco Amalgamated Realty Inc. located at sitios Puting Bato and Kulasisi in barangay San Luis, Antipolo City is now the subject of controversy after the landowner filed a complaint against its barangay captain, Andrei Zapanta.

Zapanta is also facing an administrative case before the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Complainant Joselito Garcia, representing the property owner-firm, filed a complaint against Zapanta based on the provisions of Section 60 of the Local Government Code of 1991 for culpable violation of the Constitution, oppression and abuse of authority, among others.

Garcia said that the barangay chairman has no authority to issue the cease and desist order because this could only be issued by courts of law. In addition, the complainant pointed out that such order violates the right of the landowner to due process of law.