It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday filed administrative complaints against 12 barangay officials and two Iloilo City Hall employees before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged irregularities in the distribution of cash assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
The 12 barangay officials were Barangay Captain Rizaline Delmo of Quintin Salas, Jaro; Barangay Kagawad (councilor) Victoria Ruel of Quintin Salas, Jaro; Barangay Captain Amadeo Sultan of Simon Ledesma, Jaro; unnamed barangay kagawad of Simon Ledesma, Jaro; unnamed barangay treasurer of Simon Ledesma, Jaro; Barangay Captain Gina Elauria of Taytay Zone II, Jaro; Barangay Kagawad JingJing Pineda of Taytay Zone II, Jaro; Barangay Captain Visamin Cañal of Quezon, Arevalo; unnamed barangay kagawad of Quezon, Arevalo; Barangay Captain Remedio Bedia of Lanit, Jaro; barangay kagawad Huntado of Lanit, Jaro; and Barangay Kagawad Gonzales of Lanit, Jaro.
The two respondents from Iloilo City Hall were Jobert Lim and Janicol Dizon.
The barangay officials were accused of forcibly taking P8,000 out of the P10,000 cash aid to AICS beneficiaries during on-site payouts on Nov. 7, 11, and 12.Beneficiaries were affected by typhoon ‘’Tino’’ in November and allegedly sought by barangay officials after they received the money from DSWD personnel and forced them to surrender the amount.
“Their process seems systemic. They waited for the beneficiaries but what they imposed was a kind of tariff,” said Gatchalian. “It’s very sad. They were re-victimized and people of authority re-victimized them,” Gatchalian added.
Gatchalian filed the complaints for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, grave misconduct, and abuse of authority based on the recommendation of the fact-finding team led by DSWD Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Paul D. Ledesma.
Ledesma said the Iloilo City government requested AICS funding for victims of Tino.
The DSWD distributed AICS totaling P21 million at P10,000 each to 2,100 beneficiaries during the payouts. Of the 2,100 beneficiaries, only 14 were willing to execute complaint affidavits against barangay officials.
Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas has condemned the deduction but has yet to issue a statement over the cases filed before the Ombudsman. The 12 barangay officials are known to be political allies of Mayor Treñas and her father, former Mayor Jerry Treñas.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/11/bir-lawyer-shot-dead-in-mandaue-city |
Motorcycle-riding assailants gunned down a Bureau of Internal Revenue lawyer early Thursday morning, Dec. 11, in Mandaue City, Cebu province.
Duke Ramil Perral Lincuna was driving an Isuzu Crosswind when he was attacked around 6 a.m. on a busy road in Barangay Bakilid.
A motorist was able to take a video of the attack.
The video showed two men on a motorcycle shooting at the driver’s side of the vehicle. The gunmen, who wore helmets and jackets, drove off after the attack.
Emergency responders brought the lawyer to the Mandaue City District Hospital where he was declared dead.
The victim, a resident of Barangay Lamac, Consolacion town, Cebu, was on his way to work at the Bureau of Internal Revenue-Cebu City, when he was attacked.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2154244/plunder-other-charges-filed-vs-vice-president-sara-duterte-15-others |
Civil society leaders have filed multiple criminal complaints — including plunder, bribery, malversation, and graft — against Vice President Sara Duterte and 15 others over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
A coalition of priests, academics, rights advocates and journalists, including Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Roberto Reyes, and economist and former DOF Undersecretary Dr. Maria Cielo Magno, lodged the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday afternoon.
The complainants claimed that respondents committed violations of Section 2 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 7080 as amended by RA 7659 (plunder); Article 219 and 212 of the Revised Penal Code (bribery and corruotion of public officials); Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (malversation); Section 2(a) and (e) of the RA 3019 (graft); and Article XI, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution (betrayal of public trust).
Aside from Duterte, the respondents named in the complaint are the following persons:
- Zuleika T. Lopez Undersecretary and Chief of Staff (Office of the Vice President)
- Lemuel G. Ortonio Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff, (OVP)
- Rosalynne L. Sanchez, Director for Administrative and Financial Services, (OVP)
- Julieta L. Villadelrey Chief Accountant (OVP)
- Gina F. Acosta Special Disbursing Officer (OVP)
- Col. Raymund Dante P. Lachica Commander, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group
- Michael Wesley T. Poa Former Undersecretary, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Secretary, and
- Head of Procuring Entity (Department of Education)
- Sunshine Charry A. Fajarda Director for Strategic Management Office and Former Assistant Secretary (DepEd)
- Undersecretary Annalyn M. Sevilla Undersecretary for Finance Service, Project Management Service, Education Program Management Service, Government Assistance and Subsidies Office (DepEd)
- Gloria Mercado, former Head of Procurement Entity and Undersecretary for Human Resources and Regional Development (DepEd)
- Ma. Rhunna L. Catalan Chief Accountant (DepEd)
- Edward D. Fajarda, former Special Disbursing Officer (DepEd)
- Ret. Maj. Gen. Nolasco A. Mempin, former Undersecretary for Administration (DepEd)
- Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco member of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group
- John Does
The complaint alleged that the ₱612.5 million confidential funds were “diverted, misused and concealed through coordinated schemes” carried out across the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which Duterte headed from 2022 to June 2024.
Broken down, the amount covers P500 million CFs allocated to OVP in 2022 and 2023 and P112.5 million during the time when she was the head of DepEd.
In September 2024, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo confirmed that the P125 million CF of the OVP in 2022 was spent in just 11 days — quicker than the initial reports of 19 days.
Civil society leaders have filed multiple criminal complaints — including plunder, bribery, malversation, and graft — against Vice President Sara Duterte and 15 others over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265066 |
The city government here has filed administrative complaints against an assistant department head and 32 workers of the General Services Office (GSO) involved in the alleged mass falsification of documents in their application for Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) loans.
In an interview on Thursday, City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said Mayor Greg Gasataya has approved the investigation report, which includes the recommendation of filing formal complaints against those involved.
“The City Legal Office (CLO) has been appointed as the hearing officer of the administrative cases,” he said.
The CLO started the investigation last month after GSO department head Gilda Luisma submitted an incident report regarding the 32 employees who falsified their pay slips and net pay certifications to qualify for GSIS loan.
The said employees are facing administrative complaints for serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Tiu said GSO assistant department head Franklin Andre Familiaran, who signed the supposedly falsified documents, has also been charged for 32 counts each of the stated administrative cases.
He said the mayor also ordered Familiaran to serve a 60-day preventive suspension without pay.
“This is pursuant to the constant follow-up of GSIS with regards to the reported mass falsification in the GSO department. The incident has reached them and they are following up and making the city explain about it,” Tiu said.
The city government here has filed administrative complaints against an assistant department head and 32 workers of the General Services Office (GSO) involved in the alleged mass falsification of documents in their application for Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) loans.
Plunder and graft complaints were filed Friday with the Office of the Ombudsman against Surigao del Sur Representative Romeo Momo Sr. over the alleged P1.4 billion worth of government contracts bagged by the construction firm owned by his family.
A group of Catholic priests and lawyers from Tandag, Surigao del Sur said that based on government records, Momo family’s Surigao La Suerte Corp. (SLSC) allegedly received P1.4 billion in fuel and infrastructure government contracts across the province while Momo was the company's director and a Surigao del Sur representative.
“SEC filings show Congressman Momo was listed as a director during periods when SLSC was obtaining government projects. The company's paid-up capital [also] increased dramatically, from P10 million in 2019 to P200 million in 2023. These are not ordinary circumstances," the group said in a statement.
"This involves a former top DPWH official and House Infrastructure [Committee co-] chairman whose family-linked corporation benefited from billions in government projects. Multiple contracts and Notices of Award bear signatures of Momo family members, serving as corporate representatives for SLSC. These are government-signed documents, and they speak for themselves,” it added.
In response, Momo denied the allegations and tagged them as politically motivated.
“I would like to make it clear that there is no conflict of interest in my work as Surigao del Sur first district representative. Such imputation of using public office for personal gain is not true. Wala po itong katotohanan,” he said in a statement.
“I had already, in fact, divested from the Surigao La Suerte Corp. a long time ago. I’m no longer part of this company. Besides, it’s not doing business in my congressional district. People and documents can attest to that. These baseless complaints are all political motivated. It is nothing more than a desperate attempt to link me to a supposed corruption scandal,” he added.
Momo then said he will answer the allegations with additional details before the proper forum and at the proper time.
“I have always been guided by the highest standards of integrity and principle enshrined in the Constitution: Public office is a public trust. I will never betray the people of Surigao del Sur, whom I have served, and shall continue to serve, with utmost responsibility and accountability,” he said.
Plunder and graft complaints were filed Friday with the Office of the Ombudsman against Surigao del Sur Representative Romeo Momo Sr. over the alleged P1.4 billion worth of government contracts bagged by the construction firm owned by his family.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/13/ex-barangay-captain-murdered-in-basilan |
Police are investigating the murder of former Mangalut Barangay Captain Haji Malik Aru of Akbar municipality, Basilan province in Isabela City, Basilan on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Investigation showed that the gunman approached the victim on the Lamitan-Isabela Highway in Sitio Pilar, Barangay Binuangan, and shot him.
His body was discovered by responding lawmen.
Officials have appealed to residents and eyewitnesses for information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect.
Police are conducting follow-up investigation.
Possible motives are personal and political.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/14/leyte-cop-faces-dismissal-for-shabu-use |
Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered the start of the dismissal proceedings against a police corporal who was discovered using illegal drugs in Palompon, Leyte.
The policeman, a member of the Palompon Municipal Police Station, tested positive for illegal drugs during a targeted drug test conducted last Dec. 5 and according to the investigation, he was monitored for using shabu two months earlier.
After a series of validations which confirmed the information, the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group formulated Target Intelligence Packet “K9” to include him in a random drug testing held on Dec. 5 .
The drug test result, claimed on December 13, showed that the policeman tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.”
Nartatez directed the immediate filing of administrative cases in accordance with existing PNP rules, with dismissal from the service among the penalties being pursued should the charges be proven.
“Let this be a clear message that the Philippine National Police is no place for those involved or using illegal drugs. Our counter-intelligence operation and internal cleansing mechanisms are strong,” said Nartatez.
“We will run after you and make sure that you will suffer the consequences as part of our commitment to protect the integrity of the organization and the honor of the badge,” he added.
Nartatez also emphasized that criminal cases may follow if supported by evidence as he underscored that no one in the organization is exempt from accountability as he stressed that the PNP will act decisively against personnel who violate the law and betray the public's trust.
He added that while the incident is considered isolated, it is being addressed firmly and without hesitation.
As part of sustained internal reforms, Nartatez also ordered the expansion of intelligence-driven and random drug testing across police units nationwide, particularly those in frontline and operational roles.
A PNP officer has been busted for using drugs.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/14/village-official-stabbed-by-colleague-in-ilocos-norte |
A barangay kagawad was stabbed and wounded by a fellow village official during a parking dispute in Barangay Abucay here on Friday, police said.
Police Major Kristian Lee Badua, chief of the Piddig Municipal Police Station, identified the victim as Kagawad Baptista.
Badua said the suspect, Kagawad Nicolas, allegedly blocked a parking area, prompting the victim to reprimand him.
A heated argument erupted, during which the suspect went home to get a knife and stabbed the victim.
The suspect was arrested and the victim was taken to a hospital in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
The victim and the suspect were allegedly drunk at the time of the incident.
Badua said the suspect has expressed remorse but refused to say anything further about the incident.
The victim has expressed intention to file charges against the suspect.
Police said they will coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and refer the matter to the Liga ng mga Barangay.
A barangay kagawad was stabbed and wounded by a fellow village official during a parking dispute in Barangay Abucay.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2154960/retired-policeman-shot-dead-inside-cockpit-in-calbayog-city |
A 57-year-old retired police officer was shot dead while watching a cockfight inside the Ipao Sports Complex, a cockpit arena, in Barangay San Policarpo, Calbayog City, Samar, on Saturday night, Dec. 13, according to the Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas (PRO 8).
Based on the initial report from PRO-8, the victim, identified only as “Nonoy,” a resident of Barangay Monbon, Sta. Margarita, Samar, was inside the sports complex at around 8:03 p.m. when the incident occurred.
Police said an unidentified male suspect, described as wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt, black short pants, and a violet cap, approached the victim from behind and shot him three times. The suspect then reportedly fired two more shots before fleeing in an unknown direction.
Personnel of the Calbayog City Police Station immediately responded after receiving information from a concerned citizen and conducted an initial investigation at the scene.
Responding personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rushed the victim to the Calbayog District Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival at around 9:20 p.m. by his attending physician.
PRO 8 said the Calbayog City Forensic Unit processed the crime scene and recovered five fired .45-caliber cartridge cases, one unfired .45-caliber cartridge, and a .45-caliber pistol with an inserted magazine found in the possession of the victim.
Two additional magazines with ammunition were also recovered from the victim’s sling bag, along with other personal belongings.
The victim’s body was later brought to St. Peter Funeral Home in Sitio Talahib, Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City.
A 57-year-old retired police officer was shot dead while watching a cockfight.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2155733/davao-sur-village-chief-aide-nabbed-in-drug-sting-operation |
Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-11) launched a drug buy-bust operation in Sulop, Davao del Sur on Monday, December 15, that resulted in the arrest of a village chief and his aide.
The village chief, identified only as “Kap,” was caught in the act of selling illegal drugs when a PDEA agent, posing as buyer, successfully bought one sachet of suspected meth during the sting operation that took place in Barangay Roxas at around 10:15 p.m. on Monday.
Agents claimed that the drugs contained in the sachet is worth some P8,000.
On the other hand, alias “Dionisio,” who was with the suspect, was also arrested in the operation.
The PDEA-11 office said four more sachets of suspected meth weighing around 23 grams, with an estimated street value of P156,400, were seized from the possession of the suspects. The marked money used by the poseur-buyer was also recovered by the operatives during the body search.
The suspects are now placed under the custody of the PDEA Regional Office 11 in Davao City.
The operation was done in coordination with the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU), and personnel of Sulop municipal police station.
A village chief and his aide have been busted for drugs.
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