TARLAC CITY, Tarlac (July 4, 2025) — The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tarlac City has found village chief Jay-Ar Navarro of Barangay Tibag guilty of multiple administrative offenses, including gross negligence, dereliction of duty, abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The decision, outlined in Resolution No. IX-25-074, imposes a six-month suspension on Navarro following a formal investigation into a complaint filed by then-Tarlac Governor Susan A. Yap-Sulit. The Resolution was passed on June 24, but a copy of it was released to the media only this week.
The complaint stemmed from Navarro’s refusal to issue a Barangay Certificate of Residency to then-governor, despite her submission of multiple government-issued documents, including a Voter’s ID, Voter’s Certification, Driver’s License, and a notarized affidavit from two disinterested persons. Navarro allegedly insisted on conducting an on-site inspection of the governor’s residence, claiming lack of personal knowledge about her residency — a move the committee deemed excessive and unjustified.
The Committee on Administrative Investigation ruled that Navarro’s actions violated ethical standards for public officials under Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards). The committee highlighted:
Gross Negligence: Navarro disregarded valid documents and imposed arbitrary requirements.
Abuse of Authority: His demand for a home inspection was deemed a “capricious display of power.”
Conduct Prejudicial to Public Service: His behavior undermined trust in local governance.
However, the charge of oppression was dismissed due to lack of evidence.
The resolution cited Navarro’s failure to uphold constitutional principles, including the right to privacy (Article III, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also noted violations of the Ease of Doing Business Act (RA 11032), which prohibits unjustified refusal of duly documented requests.
The six-month suspension will be enforced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Tarlac City office. The Sangguniang Panlungsod emphasized that public office is a “public trust” and warned against misuse of authority.
Yap-Sulit, now Tarlac City mayor, who opted for legal recourse over amicable settlement, has yet to issue a statement.
