It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/663864/borbon-vice-mayor-ordered-dismissed-by-ombudsman-for-grave-misconduct |
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Borbon Vice Mayor Noel Dotillos.
The state’s anti-graft investigating body found Dotillos guilty of grave misconduct over the unauthorized release of a P570,000 anniversary bonus and the illegal hiring of his wife under a contract of service.
The Ombudsman imposed the penalty of dismissal from service with forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and cancellation of civil service eligibility.
A copy of the 22-page decision, promulgated on July 18, 2025, was furnished to members of the media.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Borbon resident Emar Bascon Cuico, who accused official of releasing public funds without proper authorization and of employing his wife despite legal prohibitions.
Records showed that in March 2019, Dotillos, then mayor, approved the disbursement of P570,000 as “anniversary bonuses” for municipal employees, granting P10,000 each.
However, the payment was made before the municipal council approved a supplemental appropriation ordinance covering the expense, the document stated.
In turn, the Ombudsman ruled that Dotillos violated Sections 305(a), 321, and 344 of the Local Government Code, which govern the use and disbursement of public funds.
It added that a municipal resolution cannot substitute for a legally required appropriation ordinance.
“The disbursement of public funds must have the corresponding legal basis and prior authorization through an ordinance, not merely a resolution,” portions of the Ombudsman decision read.
The anti-graft body also found Dotillos liable for illegally hiring his wife, Corazon Dotillos, as a job order worker in April 2024, even though she had already reached the compulsory retirement age in October 2021.
The Ombudsman noted that while the municipality’s 2024 budget contained a line item for “general services,” it was too broad to specifically cover her hiring.
Moreover, Dotillos failed to secure prior authorization from the Sangguniang Bayan, in violation of Section 22(e) of the Local Government Code.
A municipal resolution passed months later ratifying the contract did not cure the procedural defect, the Ombudsman added.
Meanwhile, five other municipal officials included in the complaint were cleared of liability for lack of evidence. The complaint against former budget officer Teresita Mangulat Cabarug was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Dotillos, in response, sought to overturn the Ombudsman’s decision.
In an interview with reporters, the vice mayor said his camp has already filed a motion for reconsideration.
At the same time, he defended their decision to provide financial incentives to municipal workers, adding that the disbursement of public funds underwent all necessary procedures.
“Dili mana corruption oy kay ang mga tao may nakadawat ana. Naa may payroll ana … Grabe ilang decision, bug-at kaayo,” explained Dotillos.
(It is not corruption because it is the people that received that. There is a payroll for that…Their decision is very heavy.)
Borbon is a 2nd class municipality located approximately 75 kilometers north of Cebu City.
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Borbon Vice Mayor Noel Dotillos after he was found guilty of grave misconduct over the unauthorized release of a P570,000 anniversary bonus and the illegal hiring of his wife under a contract of service.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2126643/police-probe-into-shooting-at-bukidnon-board-members-ranch |
Police are investigating an alleged shooting incident that occurred shortly after midnight on October 16 at the ranch of Bukidnon 3rd District Board Member Jose Miguel Fortich in Purok 12, Barangay San Jose, Quezon town.
The municipal government of Quezon has condemned in the strongest terms the incident that occurred around 12:15 a.m.
According to initial reports, unidentified suspects fired multiple gunshots at Fortich and his family while they were attending a private gathering.
Fortich immediately reported the incident to the Quezon Municipal Police Station, prompting Police Lt. Col. Erwin Nelga, the town police’s officer in charge, to lead an investigation and launch pursuit operations to identify and apprehend the suspects.
Authorities said no one was hurt in the attack.
In a statement, the local government denounced the act of violence, emphasizing that it goes against the values of peace and safety that the town upholds.
“The Municipal Government of Quezon condemns in the strongest terms the alleged shooting incident involving Board Member Jomic Fortich and his family. Violence and crime have no place in our municipality. These contradict the values we uphold and our vision of a peaceful town where everyone can thrive,” the statement reads in part.Municipal officials said they are working closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.
“Our Municipal Public Safety Office also continues to take measures to prevent further untoward incidents,” the local government said.
Authorities urged the public to remain calm and cooperative as investigations continue.
Police have yet to identify the suspects and determine the motive behind the shooting.
Police are investigating an alleged shooting incident that occurred shortly after midnight on October 16 at the ranch of Bukidnon 3rd District Board Member Jose Miguel Fortich in Purok 12, Barangay San Jose, Quezon town.
A barangay councilor and his live-in partner were gunned down in Barangay 21, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, on Sunday.
Police identified the victims as barangay councilor Joshua Madamba, 26, and live-in partner, Eloisa Jane Pagaduan, 30, an online accounting staff.
Investigation disclosed that the victims were eating at the porch of their house when two men onboard a motorcycle arrived.
The gunman alighted from the motorcycle and shot the victims several times then fled.
Madamba died on the spot due to multiple bullet wounds. Pagaduan was declared dead in a hospital.
One person was wounded by stray bullet and taken to a hospital.
One of the suspects, who turned out to be a police corporal, was arrested during the hot pursuit operation and is now under police custody.
Recovered from the crime scene were eight empty shells and two slugs for a caliber .45.
The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office headed by Police Colonel Joemar Labiano said no special treatment will be accorded to the police officer who faces double murder and frustrated murder charges in court.
Love triangle could be a motive in the incident, police said.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/963100/barangay-chair-kills-construction-worker-cavite/story/ |
Authorities are searching a for barangay chairman who allegedly shot dead a construction worker following a dispute over their respective videoke sprees in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
According to Jonathan Andal’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, the suspect shot the victim at the height of their argument in Barangay San Jose on Friday night.
The victim was then videoing the dispute on his smartphone and caught the suspect in the act of pulling out a firearm and shooting him.
Police said the suspect was having a drink and enjoying videoke when the victim – who was also having a few drinks and singing songs on videoke – confronted him for still unknown reasons.
This led to an argument, after which the barangay chairman shot the construction worker in the chest. The victim was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
CCTV footage also showed the suspect escaping after the incident.
Police have filed charges against the suspect, who remains at large. Meanwhile, the victim’s wife urged the barangay chairman to face accountability for his crime.
A barangay chairman has shot and killed a man during a karaoke session.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/21/basilan-barangay-councilor-shot-dead |
Authorities arrested two of the three suspects behind the murder of a village official in Basilan province on Tuesday, police said.
Basilan police director Col. Cerrazid Umabong identified the two arrested suspects as Toh Lalung Acalul, 41, and Delpi Suratan, 32, both residents of Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan.
The arrests were made just minutes after the suspects allegedly shot and killed Nadzri Tarahin, 41, in a bus terminal in Barangay Malinis, Lamitan City at about 10:32 a.m.
Investigation showed Tarahin, an Islamic teacher and village councilor of Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, was waiting for his daughter, who was transacting in a nearby automated teller machine, when the suspects appeared and repeatedly shot him.
Tarahin was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead by the attending physician.
The gunman, wearing a hooded jacket, fled aboard a pickup truck, while the other two fled on a motorcycle with no registered plate number.
Responding police launched a manhunt, leading to the arrest of Acalul and Suratan.
Recovered from the arrested suspects were the getaway motorcycle, two .45 caliber pistols with ammunition, and 28 heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu.
Umabong said the third suspect, Nas, an alleged member of the military's intelligence security unit, remains at large.
He said that the shooting was allegedly a revenge killing.
Criminal charges are set to be filed against the arrested suspects.
A barangay councilor in Basilan has been assassinated.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2127558/chavit-13-others-face-plunder-raps |
Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson faces a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly approving the purchase of a property in Narvacan town that was overpriced by P100 million in 2019 when Singson was its mayor.
The Warriors Ti Narvacan, Inc. (The Warriors of Narvacan Inc.) — an organization advocating good governance and public accountability — on Monday lodged the complaint against Singson and 13 others, including a mayor, a former vice mayor, and former councilors of Narvacan.
Singson, who served as Narvacan mayor from 2019 to 2022 and who has become more vocal in his criticism of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, called it “a desperate diversionary tactic and a renewed smear campaign orchestrated by political detractors.”
The Warriors alleged that Singson and the others conspired to defraud the local government of Narvacan by approving the purchase of a 99,974-square-meter property from Western Textile Mills Inc. at P149.96 million.
The group, represented by lawyer Estelita Cordero, claimed that the property’s actual value was only around P49.98 million based on zonal valuation, making the nearly P100-million difference a violation of Republic Act No. 7080, or the Anti-Plunder Act.
Also named as respondents were former Narvacan Vice Mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr., former Councilors Edna Sanidad, Joseph Tejada, Jovenniano Ampo Jr., Charito Viloria, Bernadette Lim, Loreto Caballes, Emiliano Clarin, Reina Alexa Antolin, Romulo Rea, Joemar Grey Cabico, former municipal assessor Arlene Debina, and Raymond Ang of Western Textile Mills Inc.
Edna Sanidad is Narvacan’s incumbent mayor.
Singson claimed that the 100,000 sq-m property was valued at P800 million, or P8,000 per sq m, during the transaction, but he arranged its sale to the local government for P120 million.“This transaction resulted in a personal loss of approximately P680 million on my part, demonstrating a substantial act of assistance, not an attempt to profit or plunder,” he said. It is now currently valued at P2 billion.
Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson faces a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly approving the purchase of a property in Narvacan town that was overpriced by P100 million in 2019 when Singson was its mayor.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) began dismissal proceedings against a corporal — whom it did not name — for his alleged involvement in the killing of an Ilocos Norte barangay councilor and his partner.
The attack on kagawad Joshua Bernardo, 26, and his partner Eloisa Bonilla, 30, took place last Sunday afternoon. The corporal was identified as one of the suspects and arrested by police later that evening, according to the PNP.
“[Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.] has ordered the start of the summary dismissal proceedings against a police corporal tagged in the killing of a barangay kagawad and his partner in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte,” the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Appropriate criminal and administrative charges will be filed against a police corporal assigned to the Tourist Police Unit of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office,” it added.
The PNP further said its watchdog Internal Affairs Service will coordinate with the local police for an administrative investigation against the police corporal tagged in the case.
Bernardo and Bonilla were eating with a certain Mark John Bernardo, 25, at the porch of their home when two men on a motorcycle without a license plate opened fire on them and fled the scene.
The village councilor died on the spot, while his partner was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. The third victim was brought to the hospital for treatment.The PNP did not mention how the pair was related to the third victim.
The Philippine National Police began dismissal proceedings against a corporal — whom it did not name — for his alleged involvement in the killing of an Ilocos Norte barangay councilor and his partner.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/21/ombudsman-finds-rama-guilty-of-oppression |
He is out of public office but legal issues continued to hound him.
Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has been found guilty by the Office of the Ombudsman of oppression or grave abuse of authority for what the anti-graft court described as “cruel and excessive” reassignment of four city employees.
Also found guilty of the same offense was City Assessor Maria Theresa Rosell.
The Ombudsman’s Special Panel of Investigators ruled that Rama and Rosell went beyond their powers when they transferred regular employees from the City Assessor’s Office to other posts “without valid grounds.”
City Assessor’s Office employees Filomena Atuel, Maria Almicar Diongzon, Sybil Ann Ybañez, and Chito dela Cerna filed the case against Rama and other city officials on Feb. 23, 2024.
They accused Rama and Rosell of grave misconduct, oppression, and abuse of authority for their reassignment in mid-2023, which the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Regional Office VII declared “invalid and without legal effect.”
According to the Ombudsman, the employees were “removed from payroll, denied salaries and benefits, and subjected to surveillance” while being given no definite duties.
“The circumstances of being dropped from the list of employees for payroll, withholding of salaries and other benefits, and being made to sit at the office without work are indicia of an invalid reassignment — a far cry from being regular and made in the exigency of public service,” the Ombudsman said.
In a 28-page decision dated Sept. 1, 2025 decision, Rama and Rosell were each meted a one-year suspension — the maximum penalty for the offense.
Since he is no longer in office after he was previously dismissed over another case and failing in his mayoral bid last elections, Rama’s penalty will instead be converted into a fine equivalent to six months’ salary, payable to the Ombudsman.
Six other officials, including former City Administrator Collin Rosell, Assistant Department Heads Francis May Jacaban and Angelique Cabugao, Administrative Division Head Jay-Ar Pescante, Records Head Lester Joey Beniga, and Computer Division Head Nelyn Sanrojo, were cleared for lack of substantial evidence.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/10/21/2481471/trillanes-files-plunder-raps-vs-duterte-bong-go-over-p7-b-davao-projects |
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has filed plunder complaints against Sen. Bong Go, members of his family, and detained former president Rodrigo Duterte over their alleged involvement in the diversion of billions of pesos in infrastructure projects in Davao.
Trillanes filed the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, October 21, accusing the respondents of violating the Plunder Law, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Also implicated were Go’s father and half-brother, who allegedly own the construction firms CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders.
Trillanes alleged that the Go family’s construction firms were awarded nearly P7 billion worth of government infrastructure contracts from 2016 to the present, mostly in Davao City and other areas in the Davao Region, where members of the Duterte family have served as mayors and in various other positions.
He said that of the total amount, P816 million came from joint ventures between CLTG and Alfrego Builders and St. Gerrard Construction, owned by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya.
Trillanes alleged that these contracts were funneled through political connections and government influence, describing the pattern as a clear case of plunder.
This is not the first time Trillanes has filed similar charges. In July 2024, he lodged plunder and graft complaints against Duterte and Go over the continuous awarding of P6.6 billion worth of government contracts to firms linked to Go’s family from 2007 to 2018.
The former senator said the earlier complaint was buried by a former prosecutor general, who allegedly defied the justice secretary’s directive by forwarding the case to the Ombudsman without investigation.
The former senator claimed the former prosecutor general's move led to his dismissal, but publicly, the prosecutor resigned from his post "to pursue other endeavors."
“Ang ginawa nung dating prosecutor general, against the order nung SOJ (Secretary of Justice), sinubmit niya dito and that eventually led to his dismissal or relief doon sa position niya,” Trillanes said. (What the former Prosecutor General did was, against the order of the SOJ, he submitted it here, and that eventually led to his dismissal or relief from his position.)
“So what they did here was, they didn't even investigate it. Not even a day or an hour was devoted to investigating it. They really just buried it, but that was without prejudice, so we still had the opportunity to add to what we initially filed."
Philstar.com has reached out to Go for a comment concerning Trillanes’ complaint, but he has yet to reply as of press time.
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has filed plunder complaints against Sen. Bong Go, members of his family, and detained former president Rodrigo Duterte over their alleged involvement in the diversion of billions of pesos in infrastructure projects in Davao.
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