It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/06/to-swerve-and-protect-epd-cop-in-hot-water-for-erratic-driving-in-mandaluyong |
A police officer assigned to the Eastern Police District (EPD) is currently being investigated for his erratic driving of a motorcycle in Mandaluyong City that was caught on video and uploaded on social media, the EPD said.
In a statement issued by the EPD on Thursday, Nov. 6, the policeman was seen on video riding a motorcycle along Shaw Boulevard without wearing a protective helmet and swerving dangerously on the road multiple times.
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) identified the rider as Chief Master Sgt. Homer Sanares Urbano.
"Immediately upon identification, it was confirmed that the said personnel is assigned to the District Headquarters Support Unit of EPD. The concerned personnel was directed to report immediately and required to submit a written explanation regarding the incident," the EPD said.
"Likewise, the District Investigation and Detective Management Division (DIDMD) was ordered to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the facts of the case. Should the investigation find the officer liable for his actions, appropriate administrative charges will be filed against him in accordance with existing rules and regulations," it added.
The police force clarified that the incident is an isolated case, stressing that it will not condone or tolerate any misconduct or violation of laws, including traffic rules, committed by its personnel.
"All members of the EPD are expected to uphold the highest standards of discipline, integrity, and professionalism at all times. The Eastern Police District remains steadfast in its commitment to serve and protect the community responsibly and to be exemplars and not exempt in enforcing the law properly," the EPD noted.
Meanwhile, NAPOLCOM Chief Commissioner Rafael Calinisan directed the agency’s Inspection, Monitoring, and Investigation Service (IMIS) to immediately initiate administrative proceedings against Urbano.
“No one is above the law, especially those sworn to enforce it. I will not allow our policemen to swerve and protect themselves from accountability," Calinisan said.
According to him, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a Show Cause Order to Urbano, who was identified as both the registered owner and driver of the involved motorcycle.
"The LTO directed Urbano to appear before its Intelligence and Investigation Division on Nov. 14, 2025, at the agency’s main office in East Avenue, Quezon City. He is required to submit a verified written explanation on why he should not be held liable for the following violations: Disregarding Traffic Signs, Violation of the Mandatory Helmet Law, and Being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle," Calinisan said.
"Pending the outcome of the investigation, Urbano’s driver’s license had been preventively suspended for 90 days, and the motorcycle placed under alarm, effectively blocking any transactions involving the vehicle," he added.
The official assured the public that it is working closely with the LTO to ensure that proper administrative and disciplinary actions are pursued.
“We will not tolerate any act of misconduct by members of the Philippine National Police. Police officers must set the example by strictly adhering to the very laws they are mandated to enforce," the commissioner stressed.
A police officer assigned to the Eastern Police District (EPD) is currently being investigated for his erratic driving of a motorcycle in Mandaluyong City that was caught on video and uploaded on social media, the EPD said.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed tax evasion charges before the Department of Justice against three former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways - Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
Named respondents are former District Engr. Henry Alcantara, former Assistant District Engr. Brice Ericson Hernandez, and former Construction Section Chief Jaypee Mendoza.
"We conducted a lifestyle check on Alcantara, Hernandez, and Mendoza. These three ex-DPWH officials had lavish lifestyles. We discovered PHP1.6 billion in income tax deficiencies alone after investigating their financial transactions, properties, business interests, and tax returns of the aforementioned individuals. This is a clear case of tax evasion," BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement.
The three ex-government officials face charges for tax evasion, and willful failure to file and willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in their income tax returns.
The BIR said the officials derived significant income from so-called “proponents’ shares” or kickbacks from ghost flood-control projects, which they allegedly laundered through casino gambling.
Through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and casino records of the three officials, the BIR confirmed that they exchanged cash for casino chips grossly disproportionate to their declared sources of income.
Further examination of the BIR, Land Registration Authority (LRA), and Land Transportation Office (LTO) records revealed that the officials acquired luxury vehicles, high-value properties, and other personal assets also grossly disproportionate to their declared sources of income.
"The SALNs (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth) and tax returns of Alcantara, Hernandez, and Mendoza cannot justify their lavish lifestyle. Their casino records, properties, financial transactions, and business interests are grossly disproportionate to their declared sources of income,” Lumagui said.
“We will continue investigating government officials with direct evidence linking them to anomalous flood control projects. This is the second batch of criminal cases filed in relation to this issue. As of now, we have filed a total of 10 criminal cases, with PHP8.860 billion in total tax liability. Expect more tax cases to be filed."
The BIR said the case was made possible through a whole-of-government approach.
The properties, financial transactions, and other pieces of evidence showcasing their lavish lifestyle were pieced together through the help of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Anti–Money Laundering Council (AMLC), LRA, LTO, PAGCOR, and licensed casinos.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed tax evasion charges before the Department of Justice against three former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways - Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2135802/cop-arrested-for-robbing-vegetable-vendor-in-leyte |
A police officer assigned in Eastern Samar is now in custody after he was arrested for allegedly robbing a vegetable vendor in Abuyog, Leyte.
He sustained a gunshot wound when he reportedly pointed a firearm at another off-duty cop, who shot him in self-defense while attempting to arrest him for the robbery.
The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Nalibunan, Abuyog, where the victim, identified only as alias “Lenny,” 30, of Barangay Pagsang-an, was buying vegetables from a truck, the Philippine National Police Leyte office reported on Friday.
The suspect—wearing a black raincoat—allegedly snatched the vendor’s gold necklace worth P42,000 and a belt bag containing P15,000 in cash before fleeing on a motorcycle.
An off-duty police officer who was nearby witnessed the robbery and immediately identified himself as a law enforcer. When he attempted to intercept the fleeing suspect, the latter allegedly drew a short firearm and aimed it at the officer, prompting the latter to fire in self-defense.
A few hours later, investigators from the Abuyog Municipal Police Station learned that a man with a gunshot wound had been admitted to Baybay City Hospital. Coordination with nearby police stations confirmed that the wounded man was a 37-year-old police master sergeant assigned at the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office (ESPPO) and a resident of Zone 1, Javier, Leyte.
Authorities arrested the suspect at the hospital and recovered from him a PNP-issued firearm with 13 live rounds, a black Honda Click motorcycle, the raincoat used during the robbery, and P7,720 in cash.
The officer remains under police custody while charges for robbery and violations of the Philippine National Police Code of Conduct are being prepared.“It is deeply disappointing that one of our own is allegedly involved in this criminal act. While we commend the immediate response of our personnel on the ground, we want to assure the public that this incident is being dealt with utmost transparency and impartiality,” Col. Dionisio Apas, Jr., Leyte police provincial director, said in a statement.
He assures the public that the case will be pursued with due process and fairness.
A police officer assigned in Eastern Samar is now in custody after he was arrested for allegedly robbing a vegetable vendor in Abuyog, Leyte.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday filed two complaints of bid rigging against two contractors and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel over “ghost” and “substandard” flood control projects in La Union and Davao Occidental.
The complaints he filed before the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) were against St. Timothy Construction Corp. of contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, Silverwolves Construction Corp., and DPWH officials and employees from the two provinces.
The DPWH noted that the cases are for the PCC’s preliminary inquiry.
“The President said that those responsible for [the project anomalies] must be held accountable and jailed and the stolen public funds must be recovered. As long as we have evidence, we will continue to recommend filing of charges,” Dizon said in Filipino.
He added that penalties as high as about P3.13 billion worth of penalty may be imposed on those proven to have violated Chapter III , Section 14 of the Philippine Competition Act, which prohibits anticompetitive agreements such as bid rigging.
Together with price fixing and market allocation (where competitors agree to divide the market by volume, territory, type of goods or customers), bid rigging is prohibited from the outset without further inquiry into their effects.
The DPWH recently signed a memorandum of agreement with PCC to fast-track the referral of fines against contractors involved in bid rigging and other violations under the Philippine Competition Act.On Oct. 23, the DPWH also filed complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against the same contractors and several DPWH officials for malversation of public funds through the falsification of public documents on separate flood control projects in the two provinces.
The filing of separate cases came after Dizon inspected what he described as “substandard” and “ghost” flood mitigation structures in La Union and Davao Occidental.
On Sept. 16, Dizon visited two flood control projects along the Bauang River Basin in La Union worth P89.7 million each, both awarded to Silverwolves Construction.
He said he also found out that the projects were already fully paid by the DPWH.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier tagged Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Yap as the “person of interest” behind Silverwolves Construction.
Remulla said that while Yap divested from it years ago, “there’s still reason to suspect that he’s still the beneficial owner of the company. So there’s clear conflict of interest punishable under Republic Act 3019,” the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Yap had denied any involvement in alleged kickbacks in government infrastructure projects.
But Remulla noted that Yap had served as House appropriations chair from 2020 to 2022.
It was in the same period when the Discayas were awarded the La Union flood control project.
Remulla said the connection became clear when the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) found that the Discayas transmitted some P70 million to the bank account of Yap’s brother Edvic, also a lawmaker.
“So we saw that there is really a pattern—they were clearly involved because the money was transmitted from the Discayas,” Remulla noted, adding that this constituted a “clear case of conflict of interest” against the Yaps punishable under RA 3019.
Dizon also personally assessed what he described as a “ghost” flood-control work in Davao Occidental worth P96.5 million.
He said this project was awarded to St. Timothy Construction, which was already fully paid.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday filed two complaints of bid rigging against two contractors and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel over “ghost” and “substandard” flood control projects in La Union and Davao Occidental.
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered the dismissal of a Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) instructor found guilty of grave misconduct over a sexual assault complaint filed by a cadet.
Police Maj. Anthony France Ramos was dismissed after the commission found him liable for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, Napolcom said in a decision released Thursday.
The case arose from a July 31 incident inside Ramos’ quarters at the PNPA in Silang, Cavite.
The cadet accused Ramos of forcing him to perform oral sex. Responding officers, Police Maj. Jay Zamora and Police Capt. Mark Daniel Maraquilla said they found the cadet visibly distressed at the scene.
The commission said Ramos abused his authority to obtain sexual gratification, violating Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code on acts of lasciviousness and breaching police ethical standards.
“The Napolcom will never condone any act of sexual misconduct by anyone in the police force, regardless of rank,” Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said in a statement.
“Major Ramos’ acts are despicable and should be strongly condemned and punished. He is unfit to continue wearing the police uniform,” he added.Calinisan said the ruling underscores the commission’s zero-tolerance policy for immorality and abuse of power in the police service.
The PNPA, which trains future officers of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Fire Protection, has faced scrutiny in recent years over misconduct cases involving cadets and instructors.
Napolcom said it would continue enforcing strict accountability within the academy.
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered the dismissal of a Philippine National Police Academy instructor found guilty of grave misconduct over a sexual assault complaint filed by a cadet.
Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and other senior officials betrayed public trust by allowing a scheme that released P95 million in government funds for a flood control project in Bulacan that was never built, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure said in a report submitted Thursday, November 6, to the Office of the Ombudsman.The ICI's fourth interim report accused Bonoan of "inexcusable negligence tantamount to fraud" for failing to prevent the plunder of public funds under his watch as DPWH secretary.
Administrative charges are being recommended against the former DPWH secretary, particularly for grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, and violations for the code of conduct for government officials.
"Were it not for the President's 2025 SONA, Secretary Bonoan's inexcusable negligence tantamount to fraud would have resulted in further plunder of public funds," the ICI said.
The DPWH had awarded a contract to Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc./Beam Team Developer Specialist Inc. in April 2024 for P95,040,828 to build slope protection structures and waterways in Barangay Bambang, Bocaue, Bulacan. By January 2025, the government had paid the contractor P98,998,749.59 — full payment for a project that was certified as 100% complete.
But when state auditors inspected the site in September 2025 using the location specified in approved bid plans, they found no work or structure at the designated location, according to the ICI report.
The COA report concluded the project was never implemented despite full payment.
"The existence of statements of work accomplished bearing stamps marked 'PAID' despite the non-completion of construction at the approved site shows that the payment was based on a non-existent or unimplemented project," the ICI said.
The ICI found that DPWH officials from the Bulacan First District Engineering Office "conspired with Topnotch to facilitate the release of government funds for a purportedly completed project which, in truth, was never implemented."
The scheme required multiple DPWH officials to sign off on falsified documents at different stages.
Statements of work accomplished submitted by contractor Allan Payawal showed the project at 51.15% completion by July 2024, 89.73% by October 2024, and 100% by January 2025. These statements were verified by Project Engineer John Carlo Rivera, reviewed by Officer-in-Charge Jaime Hernandez, recommended by Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, and approved by District Engineer Henry Alcantara.
A Certificate of Completion dated January 17, 2025 stated the project had been "satisfactorily completed in accordance with the Plans and Specifications of the Contract."
The ICI said the approval of falsified statements by DPWH officials shows they either failed to verify the work or "knowingly approved a document that falsely certified compliance with the contract." The Supreme Court has ruled that certificates of completion impose a legal obligation on signatories to truthfully disclose facts, since these documents determine whether contracts have been complied with and authorize payment release.
The audit also found missing documents required under COA rules, including the Agency Certificate of Final Acceptance, geotagged photographs taken before, during and after construction, and test results.
The commission said the "deliberate suppression or non-submission of these essential documents further hindered effective project validation, supporting the claim of an 'intent to deceive the government.'"
The ICI recommended administrative charges against the following DPWH officials:
- Manuel Bonoan, former DPWH Secretary
- Roberto Bernardo, former Undersecretary for Operations
- Maria Catalina Cabral, former Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnerships
- Henry C. Alcantara, District Engineer
- Brice D. Hernandez, Assistant District Engineer
- Ernesto C. Galang, Chief, Planning and Design Section
- John Carlo C. Rivera, Project Engineer
- John Michael E. Marcos, Engineer II
- Ericka Justine P. Chico, Engineer II
- Claudine Magdalene S. Magsakay, Engineer II
- Jaime R. Hernandez, Officer-in-Charge, Maintenance Section
They are accused of grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violations of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
Aside from Bonoan, the ICI urged administrative charges against his undersecretaries Bernardo and Cabral, saying their roles made them “intimately in the know” of DPWH operations and responsible for ensuring the proper use of funds.
Likewise, the criminal charges recommended by the ICI are for the following:
- Henry C. Alcantara, District Engineer, DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office
- Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Assistant District Engineer
- Jaime R. Hernandez, Officer-in-Charge, Maintenance Section
- John Carlo C. Rivera, Project Engineer
- Allan Payawal, along with the corporate officers and board of directors of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc./Beam Team Developer Specialist Inc.
The commission asked the Ombudsman to file charges for violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation of public funds), Articles 171 and 172 of the Revised Penal Code (Falsification by public officers and private individuals), Presidential Decree No. 1759 (violating material provisions of public works contracts), and Section 65 of RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).
The ICI also said the corporate veil of Topnotch should be pierced because "it appears that Topnotch was used as a vehicle for fraud, resulting in damage and prejudice to the Government," allowing individuals in control of the contractor to be held personally liable.
While the interim report focused on the project’s implementation stage, the ICI said the ghost project scheme likely extended to earlier phases, including budgeting, procurement, and post-audit.
It recommended that the Ombudsman conduct a deeper probe into how the project was funded and awarded, noting that “the scheme could not have been carried out without the participation or gross inexcusable negligence of certain public officials and private individuals in securing the necessary funding and facilitating the award.”
The commission vowed to submit additional evidence amid its widening inquiry.
The ICI reiterated that its findings remain preliminary and that it does not make categorical findings of guilt. Determining liability rests with proper authorities, the commission said.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1262972 |
Police are hunting four men who shot at Taharuddin Nul Mlok, a former Maguindanao del Sur board member, along a busy street here Monday morning.
The Tacurong City police office said the shooting occurred around 10:45 a.m. in front of a convenience store in Barangay New Carmen.
Mlok, 51, a resident of Datu Piang town, had just boarded his bullet-proof black sports utility vehicle when two motorcycles arrived with two riders each.
The shooter fired at Mlok while he was inside his vehicle, the police said.
“The victim was unharmed and managed to pursue the suspects, which resulted in a brief exchange of gunfire,” the police report said.
Mlok and his companions traded shots with the attackers as they fled.
Police recovered one of the motorbikes used by the suspects in a ditch in Barangay New Carmen.
The motive remained unknown.
A former Maguindanao del Sur board member has survived an assassination attempt.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2137901/fwcop-killed-after-allegedly-robbing-bulacan-convenience-store |
A police officer was said to have been killed after allegedly robbing a Bulacan convenience store, according to the Police Regional Office Central Luzon (PRO 3) on Tuesday.
In a statement, PRO 3 said the suspect — wearing a red jacket — held up a store in Barangay Santa Rosa I in Marilao, taking P20,000 before fleeing on a motorcycle to a subdivision in Barangay Loma de Gato in the same town on Monday night.
According to PRO 3, in tracking down the suspect at the subdivision, police officers “chanced upon and attempted to flag down the suspect, who instead drew his firearm and fired at the operatives, prompting them to return fire.”
“The suspect was hit during the exchange and was brought to the nearest hospital for medical treatment, where he was later declared dead by the attending physician,” it added.
PRO 3 only identified the suspect as “a member of the law enforcement community,” but a police report sent to reporters earlier on Tuesday identified the suspect killed as a police captain assigned to the Caloocan City Police Station.
The Inquirer opted not to name the suspect. It has also requested comment from the Caloocan City Police Station, but it has yet to respond.
Nonetheless, PRO 3 said it “[launched] a comprehensive investigation to determine [the suspect’s] possible involvement in a syndicate engaged in a series of robberies targeting convenience stores across Central Luzon.”
“We will continue to strengthen our ranks and ensure that every action we take upholds public trust,” PRO 3 director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. said in the statement.
A police officer was said to have been killed after allegedly robbing a Bulacan convenience store.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2138351/maguindanao-barangay-captain-arrested-for-village-chief-councilor-slay |
A barangay captain in Maguindanao del Sur was arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2023 killing of another barangay’s captain and councilor in the same province, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the CIDG only identified the arrested suspect as the current captain of Barangay Datu Salibo named “Nasser.”
The police said the arrest stemmed from a warrant for two counts of murder issued by a Shariff Aguak court on Oct. 11, 2023 with no bail recommended.
The CIDG did not specify the court that issued the warrant.
“On Aug. 16, 2023, the arrested accused and 21 other co-accused allegedly perpetrated an explosion targeting a group of barangay officials led by Jun ‘Datumanot’ Silongan, incumbent captain of Barangay Pendeten, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao Del Sur,” the CIDG said.
“The barangay officials were traversing on foot a trail in an uninhabited farmland in Sitio Patawali, Barangay Ganta, Sharif Saydona when an explosion occurred that caused the instantaneous death of [Silongan] and seriously wounding barangay kagawad Salik Katua and 8 others. Unfortunately, Kagawad Katua succumbed to the injury,” it added.
The CIDG also noted that it already arrested a municipal councilor named “Allan” last Oct. 11 in connection with the case.
A barangay captain in Maguindanao del Sur was arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2023 killing of another barangay’s captain and councilor in the same province.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/11/cop-gunned-down-by-chief-in-abra |
A police officer was killed by his superior officer inside the Abra Police Provincial Office Provincial Explosives and Canine Unit office in Casamata Hill here on Monday night.
The Bangued Municipal Police Station identified the victim as Police Staff Sgt. O'Neal Ryan Calica.
Investigation said Calica arrived at the office and went to the kitchen.
Police Lt. Jamieson Bulatao, PECU officer-in-charge, went out of his room and shot Calica in the chest.
Bulatao pointed his gun and fired at Police Senior Edwin Bandoc but missed. Bandoc shot Bulatao in the chest.
Calica and Bulatao were taken to a hospital here where they were declared dead.Follow-up investigation is ongoing.
A police officer killed a police officer, attempted to kill another police officer, but was killed by that same police officer.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2139032/cidg-files-raps-vs-kiko-barzaga-over-sept-21-violence |
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed a criminal complaint against Cavite Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga over violent incidents during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests.
In a message to reporters on Wednesday, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said, “I confirm, though, that this Group had filed a criminal complaint against Francisco Barzaga in relation to the violent incidents which occurred in Mendiola and Recto, Manila on September 21, 2025, before the office of the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office.”
“With this development, however, we are refrained from issuing statements relative to the said criminal complaint as it may preempt or influence the outcome of the preliminary investigation pending before the city prosecutor,” Morico stressed.
However, in a social media post earlier on Wednesday, Barzaga shared a document that appeared to be a subpoena from the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for violations of Articles 138 and 142 of the Revised Penal Code, which pertain to inciting to rebellion and inciting to sedition, respectively.
The violations were allegedly related to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Morico and the CIDG declined to confirm the charges shown in the post.
The document shared by Barzaga set his appearance before the city prosecutor on the afternoons of Nov. 18 and 25.
“This will not stop us. This will only make our revolution stronger!” Barzaga said in his post.
Last week, the CIDG announced it had filed cases against 97 individuals—whom it did not name—over the violence during the Sept. 21 rallies.The cases were for Articles 136, 139, and 142, which pertain to conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection, sedition, and inciting to sedition, respectively.
The violence erupted at the Ayala Bridge, then at the Mendiola Peace Arch.
Police arrested over 200 individuals, and at least one was reported dead during the riots, prompting human rights groups to condemn law enforcers and accuse them of failing to exercise “maximum tolerance.”
The protests were sparked by alleged anomalies in flood control and other infrastructure projects.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed a criminal complaint against Cavite Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga over violent incidents during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/12/court-orders-four-term-mayor-in-capiz-to-vacate-office |
A court has ordered Receliste “Tanoy” Escolin to vacate office as mayor of the municipality of President Roxas in Capiz province for serving a fourth consecutive term.
The Roxas City (Capiz) Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 ordered Escolin to “cease and desist from performing the functions and duties of the Office of the Municipal Mayor" in a decision dated Nov. 10, 2025.
This was the latest ruling against Escolin who was accused of violating the three-term rule limit when he ran and won his fourth consecutive term in the May 2025 elections.
In the decision, Judge Joanne Marie Betita noted that Escolin is “disqualified from holding the position of mayor as he already served three consecutive terms.”
The decision granted the quo warranto petition filed by former municipal councilor and mayoral candidate Bart Locsin.
Last July, the First Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cancelled Escolin’s Certificate of Candidacy (COC). Escolin filed a motion for reconsideration.
Comelec-6 Regional Director Dennis Ausan said that the Comelec decision and the court order are not final and executory.
“These are pending cases,” Ausan said.
Ausan noted he was unaware of the court order and the Comelec decision was not under the jurisdiction of the poll body’s regional office.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/11/13/2486897/24-local-officials-face-admin-raps |
Twenty-four local government officials are facing administrative sanctions after they defied a travel ban imposed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the officials, mostly mayors, left the country despite his directive to stay with their constituents and spearhead disaster preparedness and relief operations in their areas of jurisdiction ahead of Super Typhoon Uwan’s arrival.
Despite the travel ban from Nov. 9 to 15, Remulla said the local officials went abroad.
If they had a conscience, the DILG chief said the officials should have opted to stay in the country.
“That’s what they need to explain, because those are clear-cut guidelines,” he said over radio dzBB yesterday.
Remulla said the officials could be held liable for gross insubordination and abandonment of duty for leaving their constituents to suffer the typhoon’s wrath.
“It is their moral duty to be cognizant of the approaching calamity,” he said.
Neophyte Mayor Nico Dotillos of Borbon town, meanwhile, has gone viral on social media for being the only mayor in the typhoon-battered northern part of Cebu who canceled a trip to London ahead of Tino’s onslaught.
Remulla earlier said local chief executives must be physically present during all phases of disaster management under the Local Government Code and Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act.
Remulla said Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III, who was criticized by the public for being on an official business trip in Germany when Uwan hit his province, is not included in the list of officials under investigation.
Albano was criticized by the public after he urged constituents “to just chill” as the typhoon approached the country.
According to Remulla, Albano informed him of his trip and left on Nov. 8, a day before he issued his travel ban.
Twenty-four local government officials are facing administrative sanctions after they defied a travel ban imposed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
