It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/21/rizal-ppo-orders-probe-on-viral-cop-caught-riding-without-safety-gear |
The Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) has launched an investigation into a police officer who was caught on camera riding a motorcycle without wearing any protective gear, which has become viral on social media and earned the ire of netizens.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Feb. 21, Rizal PPO director Col. Eleazar Barber Jr. ordered a probe to identify the policeman as well as the details and context of the incident.
"The Rizal PPO has a clear policy regarding strict compliance with traffic laws, including the mandatory wearing of helmets in accordance with existing laws and internal regulations of the Philippine National Police," Barber said.
"If violations are proven, we will not hesitate to impose appropriate administrative sanctions in accordance with existing regulations. Our ranks are expected to be an example of discipline, integrity, and compliance with the law at all times, especially to the public," he added.
The director explained that any means of violating the law is unacceptable, especially to the police force, noting that each and every Rizal policeman is expected to be a role model of following the law and maintaining discipline.
He also urged the public to report any misconduct or incident involving members of the police force.
"The Rizal PPO remains open to feedback and will continue to serve with integrity and accountability to the people of Rizal Province," the director noted.
The Rizal Police Provincial Office has launched an investigation into a police officer who was caught on camera riding a motorcycle without wearing any protective gear.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/21/pro-9-probes-cop-for-evading-lto-checkpoint |
The Police Regional Office-9 is investigating a policeman for allegedly evading a Land Transportation Office checkpoint in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
In a viral video circulating on social media, the police officer was flagged down by LTO personnel due to the absence of a side mirror in his motorcycle.
The police officer, however, sped away after being informed of his violation.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, PRO-9 said they do not condone nor tolerate any act committed by personnel that violates the law or shows disrespect towards fellow law enforcers.
“Such behavior is unacceptable and runs contrary to the core values of professionalism, accountability, and integrity that the organization upholds,” the PRO-9 said.
The police officer has been identified but PRO-9 did not divulge his identity. He is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation and is facing administrative and possible criminal charges.
“We assure the public that all PRO-9 personnel are consistently reminded that obedience to the rule of law is paramount and that no one is above it, regardless of rank or position.”
The PRO-9 asked the public to continue reporting any incidents involving violations of the law or abuse of authority by their personnel.
The Police Regional Office-9 is investigating a policeman for allegedly evading a Land Transportation Office checkpoint in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended the prosecution of several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao City District Engineering Office (DPWH-DCDEO) and E. Gardiola Construction (EGC) based on the P14.46 million notice of disallowance (ND) it issued on a road project in 2012.
The referral was made to the Office of the Ombudsman as the COA affirmed the ND it issued against DPWH-DCDEO on the payment of P14.46 million to EGC for the project that was deemed to be substandard and yet “434.30 percent higher” than the allowable cost.
The DPWH-DCDEO contested Notice of Disallowance (ND) No. 14-007-101 dated March 24, 2014 on the payment made to EGC for the project "Rehabilitation/Improvement along Manuel Roxas Avenue, with Exception, Davao City."
In denying the appeal, the COA affirmed the alleged liability of District Engineer Lorna T. Ricardo; engineers Milagros Delos Reyes, Dwight Vincent Fernandez, Eduardo Villar, and Lilibeth Sarmiento; Emilio Sucaldito; Francisco Pilapil; and EGC for the amount of P14,466,065.82.
On the other hand, it excluded from liability engineers Gregorio Yee, Joselito Jamito, Cecilia Barrientos, Ma. Gloria G. Sorrera and Perry Neil B. Palacio; Nelson B. Luayon; Resituto D. Mira; and Rolly B. Tulayba.
"The Prosecution and Litigation Office, Legal Services Sector, this Commission, is directed to refer this case to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation and filing of appropriate charges, if warranted, against the persons liable for the transaction," the COA said in its decision.
The 17-page decision was signed by Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba and Commissioners Roland Cafe Pondoc and Mario G. Lipana.
The COA’s special audit team (SAT) said that the contract cost for the road project was P19,279,365.89, which was 434.30 percent higher than the COA allowable cost of P3,608,339.70. As a result, the COA said the contract price was considered to be excessive by P15,671,026.19.
Despite the high contract cost, the COA said its SAT discovered that the as-built plans failed to comply with the planning standards set by the DPWH as they did not indicate measurements and landmarks.
Actual inspection of the project also revealed that most rails, bolts, nuts, and washers were rusty, and the road signs and pavement studs were likewise found to be substandard, it said.
While the DPWH said that 267 sets of guardrails were installed, the SAT countered that the said guardrails were already installed even before commencement of the project.
District Engineer Ricardo filed the appeal and argued that their right to due process of law was violated as the SAT Report was only furnished to them after the issuance of the ND.
The appeal pointed out that the SAT did not conduct an exit conference prior to the issuance of the ND, and that the ND did not contain detailed computation of the disallowed amount.
The COA ruled that the appeal lacked merit. It explained that an exit conference is conducted after completion of the audit on the field wherein the auditors discuss the findings with key officials of the agency.
"It is the culminating activity of the execution phase of the audit. It is not a prerequisite for the issuance of an ND," the COA explained.
It pointed out that an ND may be issued as often as disallowances are made by the auditor to notify the agency head, the accountant, and the persons liable for the amount disallowed in the audit.
It noted that the ND was issued after hearing the arguments and justifications of the DPWH-DCDEO.
The commission affirmed the propriety of the issuance of the ND and stressed that the evidence to support overpricing is not limited to sales invoices or official receipts. It said that the findings of overpricing may be supported with canvass sheets or price quotations.
The Commission on Audit has recommended the prosecution of several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao City District Engineering Office and E. Gardiola Construction based on the P14.46 million notice of disallowance it issued on a road project in 2012.
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that convicted former Quezon City administrator Aldrin C. Cuña of graft in the P25.3-million solar power and waterproofing contract for a city building in 2019.
In its resolution issued last Feb. 19, the anti-graft court’s third division upheld its Dec. 12, 2025 decision which sentenced Cuña to six to eight years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification from holding any public office and loss of all retirement or gratuity benefits.
Cuña filed his motion for reconsideration (MR) on Jan. 5, 2026. He alleged that the court failed to appreciate that the Acceptance and Inspection Report (AIR) of the General Services Department (GSD) was the document issued by the Quezon City government that finally accepted the project from the contractor, Cygnet Energy and Power Asia Inc., and not the Acknowledgment Receipt for Equipment (ARE) and Sub-Acknowledgment Receipt for Equipment (Sub-ARE).
He also alleged that the criminal indictment only charged him on the ground of his issuance of an undated certificate of acceptance, and he was not charged for his signature in the ARE, Sub-ARE, and disbursement voucher.
The anti-graft court denied his motion. “Here, the variance between the undated Certificate of Acceptance vis-a-vis the ARE, sub-ARE, and initials in the disbursement voucher did not materially impair Cuña's right to prepare his defense," it said.
It also said that “contrary to Cuña's assertion, he was able to sufficiently defend himself, even testifying as to the validity of the ARE, sub-ARE, and his initials in the disbursement voucher."
The court stressed that Cuña should have been aware that the net-metering is a requirement under the Supply and Delivery Agreement, and he could not blame his subordinates and claim good faith when he signed the undated Certificate of Acceptance, ARE, Sub-ARE, and Disbursement Voucher.
“Cuña failed to raise any profound arguments and legal and factual basis to counteract the court's findings that he gave unwarranted benefits and advantages to Cygnet through his gross inexcusable negligence," it pointed out.
The 13-page resolution was written by Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno with the concurrence of Chairperson Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda and Associate Justice Fritz Bryn Anthony M. Delos Santos.
While Cuña was convicted, his co-accused -- former Quezon City Mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista -- was acquitted of the same charge due to the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Bautista and Cuña were initially accused of making the full payment to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia Inc. for the Supply and Installation of Solar Power System and Waterproofing Works for Civic Center Building worth P25,342,359.25.
The prosecution said Cygnet was not entitled to the said amount due to its failure to get the Net Metering System from the Manila Electric Company which was a requirement of the Supply and Delivery Agreement.
Cuña was convicted because he signed the Acknowledgment Receipts for Equipment and initialed the disbursement voucher despite the lack of the required of Net Metering System.
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that convicted former Quezon City administrator Aldrin C. Cuña of graft in the P25.3-million solar power and waterproofing contract for a city building in 2019.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/24/dilg-files-charges-vs-12-bfp-officials-in-slot-for-sale-scheme |
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed administrative charges against 12 former and active officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for their alleged involvement in the illegal recruitment and inspection irregularities.
In a statement, the DILG said those charged include pBFP personnel in Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Calabrzon.
The DILG noted that in BFP Region VIII, four former senior officials were charged for their alleged involvement in a slot-for-sale scheme during the 2025 Fire Officer 1 recruitment.
Reports disclosed that the applicants were allegedly required to pay between P400,000 to P800,000 in exchange for guaranteed inclusion in the final recruitment list.
“All four respondents have been placed under ninety-day preventive suspension to prevent interference and protect the integrity of the proceedings,’’ the BFP said.
Likewise, the DILG noted that six BFP Region X officials have also been formally charged for recruitment irregularities, including the approval of applicants without required medical, physical and dental clearances and the failure to properly release examination results.
“The issuance of preventive suspension orders will be resolved upon evaluation of their submitted answers,’’ the DILG added.
In BFP Region IV-A, the DILG said that two personnel were charged for alleged irregularities in fire safety inspection practices, involving violations of established inspection protocols.
The DILG also pointed out that administrative proceedings are underway against a BFP Region 1 fire officer for allegedly demanding p90,000 in exchange for facilitating a recruitment slot.
“A formal charge has been issued along with an order of preventive suspension for 90 days,’’ the DILG said.
Currently, the DILG Task Force overseeing accountability measures within the Bureau of Fire Protection has received approximately 40 complaints, 21 of which have already been referred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for investigation and case buildup.
The DILG reiterated that these actions form part of a sustained effort to enforce accountability, uphold merit-based recruitment, and restore public trust in the BFP.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has filed administrative charges against 12 former and active officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection for their alleged involvement in the illegal recruitment and inspection irregularities.
Two suspects in the shooting that wounded a councilman in Barangay Luca, Balamban last week have been arrested and have pointed to another incumbent councilman as the alleged mastermind behind the attack.
Police identified the suspects as Robert Borres Alcantara, 42, a resident of Barangay Tagbao, Cebu City, and Roger Markit Doncillo, 48, of Barangay Cabasiangan, Balamban.
The two were arrested during a hot pursuit operation on Sunday, February 22, in connection with the shooting of Renato Pacquiao Tribunalo, 54, an incumbent councilman of Barangay Luca.
Earlier reports said that on the afternoon of February 19, Tribunalo was inside his residence in Barangay Cantuod, Balamban, fixing an air-conditioning unit when he was shot in the right chest by a gunman later identified as Alcantara. The suspect allegedly fled on a motorcycle driven by Doncillo, who was waiting nearby.
Authorities were able to identify the suspects on February 21 with the help of concerned citizens who recognized them through closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage gathered during the investigation.
On February 22, police first arrested Alcantara around 5 p.m. at his residence in Barangay Tagbao, Cebu City. Two hours later, Doncillo surrendered to authorities in Barangay Lusaran, also in Cebu City.
A third individual, identified as 21-year-old John Lloyd Leyson Medio of Barangay Cabasiangan, Balamban, was also arrested for allegedly attempting to obstruct the hot pursuit operation.
In an interview over XFM Cebu 88.3, Alcantara and Doncillo admitted their participation in the shooting, claiming they were promised ?30,000 for the job. Alcantara alleged that he was ordered by another incumbent councilman of Barangay Luca, whose name The Freeman withheld pending his reaction, to shoot Tribunalo. He said Doncillo accompanied him as the motorcycle driver during their escape.
According to Alcantara, they only received ?2,000 as down payment and were not paid the remaining amount because they failed to carry out the alleged instruction to kill the victim.
"We have not received anything because the work has not been completed... Dos mil (only)," Alcantara said.
He claimed that the mastermind had instructed them only to injure Tribunalo and not to kill him, although he said he did not know the reason behind it. Alcantara further alleged that the firearm used in the shooting belonged to the councilman and that he returned it after the incident.
Alcantara expressed remorse for the crime, saying it was the first time he had been hired to shoot someone. For his part, Doncillo admitted agreeing to serve as the getaway driver in exchange for money.
Balamban Mayor Amos Edwin Cabahug, who personally visited the police station, said that politics could be a possible motive behind the attack, noting the allegations made by the suspects.
Cabahug urged the councilman implicated in the foiled murder attempt to surrender and answer the accusations.
"It would be good if he would just surrender because that's what he told the suspects, he was the one who sent them," the mayor said, referring to the suspects' claim that the councilman promised them ?30,000 but paid only ?2,000 after they failed to kill Tribunalo.
Cabahug also revealed that Tribunalo is reportedly eyeing a bid for barangay captain of Luca in the November 2026 elections. He noted that the victim previously served as the first councilor of the barangay.
The mayor called on aspiring candidates in Balamban to uphold peace and fairness as the barangay elections approach.
"I wished for the chance to run in politics so that such an event would not happen here in Balamban where we would kill each other. Ours, this is just politics, we are fair," he said.
Two suspects in the shooting that wounded a councilman in Barangay Luca, Balamban last week have been arrested and have pointed to another incumbent councilman as the alleged mastermind behind the attack.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269819 |
Two persons, including a barangay captain in Lagayan, Abra, died while three others were injured in an attack in Abra’s capital town of Bangued on Tuesday night.
A police report on Wednesday identified those killed as Collago barangay captain Ezequiel Parado and Collago resident, Arlene Dorias.
Those injured are Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) member Ailyn Parado, Edron Salingbay, and Jaypee Gacayan, all residents of Collago.
Initial reports said that Ezequiel and Ailyn Parado were aboard a dark blue Toyota Fortuner with plate number NVR 11 while the others were aboard a green Nissan Frontier pick-up with plate number XRZ 889.
Police said the victims were traversing Calaba Bridge in Bangued, going to Barangay Mudeng in La Paz municipality at about 6:20 p.m., when assailants riding a white pick-up vehicle opened fire at them.
Personnel of the Dolores municipal police station, who were on their way to the Abra Police Provincial Office in Bangued, saw the victims' vehicles and reported the incident to the Bangued police station.
The Dolores police personnel rushed the victims to Abra’s provincial hospital, but two of them were pronounced dead by attending physicians.
Another barangay captain has been assassinated.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2186840/remulla-chides-bulacan-guv-for-alleged-road-abuse-dont-act-like-a-king |
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said he chided Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando for allegedly abusively using the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
In a press briefing in Quezon City, the secretary maintained that his office received “many” complaints regarding Fernando’s purported use of the road, alleging that the latter had an entourage of two vans and a sports utility vehicle occupying four NLEX lanes when travelling.
“It has become Governor Fernando’s usual behavior that, when he travels along NLEX, he takes up four lanes where [other motorists] can’t overtake,” Remulla said, speaking Filipino.
“It has to stop. A governor should not act like a king. You should respect the people’s rights also,” he added.
Remulla said he had called Fernando on Sunday morning, after a report circulated online that the governor’s motorcade allegedly blocked and harassed a vehicle believed to be carrying a son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The secretary said, in their 10-minute conversation, Fernando denied the alleged incident.
The DILG chief further noted that he had referred the case to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and deferred to the said agency when pressed for details.
Fernando has yet to issue a statement on the matter. The Inquirer is working to reach him for comment. It will published his side once available.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said he chided Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando for allegedly abusively using the Northern Luzon Expressway.
An ethics complaint was filed on Wednesday, Feb. 25, against Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa by a civil society group called “Wag Kang KuCorrupt,” led by former Finance Undersecretary Prof. Cielo Magno.
The complaint stems from the senator’s prolonged absence from his official duties in the Senate, which has exceeded three months.
According to the complaint, Dela Rosa’s persistent failure to report for duty is not only a neglect of his responsibilities but also constitutes a grave abuse of the privilege and trust granted to him by the people as a senator.
The complaint further emphasized that if ordinary workers and employees were continuously absent from work, they would automatically be denied pay and, in many cases, face disciplinary action, salary deductions, suspension, or even termination.
"What we are asking for is a sanction, similar to that given to an ordinary worker who faces disciplinary action when they fail to do their job," she said.
Magno expressed hope that the Senate Committee on Ethics would promptly act on the complaint filed against Dela Rosa and impose appropriate sanctions.
She added that the upper chamber should not tolerate such conduct—namely, the continued absence and failure to perform the duties of a senator.
According to Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, there are currently six ethics complaints pending before the panel.
An ethics complaint has been field against Senator Bato for not showing up to do his job after several months.
