The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has served Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio “Oyie” Umali with the Ombudsman’s one-year preventive suspension order, following proven involvement in illegal quarrying within his jurisdiction.

The Ombudsman found that 205 of the issued quarry permits did not have environmental compliance certificates (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), resulting in low tax collection, reported RH 5 Val Gonzales.

The suspension order, dated September 8, 2025, was signed by DILG Usec. Hubert V. Gervacio and received by the Nueva Ecija provincial capitol.

Umali faces charges of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of service, among others.

According to the Ombudsman, Umali’s neglect led to reduced quarry collections in Nueva Ecija, which amounted to ₱400,000 in 2022 and ₱1 million in 2023, based on the Commission on Audit’s (COA) records.

Due to the rules of succession, Vice Governor Gil Raymond Umali is temporarily standing in for Umali, and Eduardo Jose “EJ” Joson, a senior board member, has become the vice governor.