It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2092712/3-soldiers-hurt-after-armed-men-attack-military-camp-in-basilan |
A Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) officer faces dismissal over the alleged sexual harassment of a cadet, according to the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
The officer, a police major, allegedly intoxicated the cadet, undressed him, and performed oral sex on him at the PNPA camp in Silang, Cavite, on July 31, according to police.
In an interview with reporters at his office in Quezon City on Thursday, Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said he had ordered the agency’s Inspection, Monitoring, and Investigation Service to conduct a motu proprio investigation into the case.
“If this is proven true, it’s clearly dismissal from the service. There’s no bargaining there,” Calinisan said.
Earlier, Silang police chief Lt. Col. Louie Gonzaga told INQUIRER.net that the police major was already charged with acts of lasciviousness before the municipal circuit trial court.
INQUIRER.net sought comments from the PNPA and the PNP but has yet to get a response.
A Philippine National Police Academy officer faces dismissal over the alleged sexual harassment of a cadet, according to the National Police Commission.
A 31-year-old barangay councilor and her 60-year-old mother-in-law were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Sitio San Roque, Purok 5, Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, Aug. 6.Police identified the suspects as barangay official Pam and her mother-in-law Grace.The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office said the suspects were nabbed after they sold suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.Recovered from the suspects were suspected shabu weighing 10 grams valued at P68,000, P13,000 in marked money, a lighter, an improvised straw scooper, and three cellphones.Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), said that Pam was tagged as a high-value target in the illegal drugs trade.Pam’s husband was also arrested by PDEA for a drug offense in May 2024 in Hinigaran and is still detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).Malong said the operation against the barangay official was based on the joint intelligence monitoring of PDEA and police after her alleged illegal drug activities were discovered.It was the suspects’ first apprehension for drug pushing.
Four police officers, including the police chief, in Balasan, a town in northern Iloilo province, were sacked after a prisoner escaped.Police Capt. Renzo Martinez and three other policemen were relieved of their posts on Thursday, Aug. 7.Suspect Jason Navales was on board a police patrol car when he escaped.Handling the carnapping suspect were Police Corporal Victorino Bundac, Police Staff Sgt. Russel Lumawag, and Corporal John Crisostomo.Police Regional Office-6 chief Police Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan ordered their relief pending investigation.“We uphold the highest standards of professionalism and accountability. Any act of negligence or lapse in protocol will be dealt with accordingly,” said the PRO-6 in a statement.The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) under Police Col. Bayani Razalan has created a fact-finding team to determine the circumstances that led to the suspect’s escape while also finding out the accountability of the policemen involved.Navales remains at large. He has a P100,000 reward for his recapture.“We assure the public that all necessary efforts are being exerted to recapture the escapee and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future,” PRO-6 added.
Ibajay town, Aklan Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso was shot dead by a Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member on Friday morning, according to the Police Regional Office Western Visayas (PRO 6).
The incident transpired at the SB office in Barangay Poblacion at around 9:15 a.m.
PRO 6 identified the suspect as SB member Mihrel Senatin.
“According to initial reports, the suspect entered the SB Office to request a copy of local ordinances passed during his term,” the Western Visayas police explained.
“He then allegedly approached Vice Mayor Estolloso and asked, ‘Vice, anu ang saea kimu?’ (translated as ‘What wrong have I done to you?’) before drawing a firearm and shooting the victim without further provocation,” it added.
Estolloso sustained a gunshot wound on the left side of his chest, according to police.
The Ibajay vice mayor was rushed to the district hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead by the attending physician, the Aklan Provincial Police Office said in a separate message to reporters.
Meanwhile, Senatin was taken into the custody of the municipal police, PRO 6 added.
Ibajay town, Aklan Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso was shot dead by a Sangguniang Bayan member.
A village chairperson in Samar, wanted for murder and frustrated murder, was arrested by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), ending nearly nine years of hiding.
CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano on Friday identified the suspect as “Antonio,” the incumbent chair of Barangay Saraw in Motiong town, according to a news release.
“Antonio” was arrested on Aug. 3 based on warrants issued in 2016 by the Regional Trial Court Branch 29 in Catbalogan City.
The case stemmed from a 2015 armed encounter in Barangay Concepcion, Paranas, where Antonio and 14 suspected members of a communist group ambushed government troops using high-powered firearms.
The attack resulted in the death of two soldiers and serious injuries to two more.
A village chairperson in Samar, wanted for murder and frustrated murder, was arrested by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), ending nearly nine years of hiding.
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental and two other municipal officials to pay a fine equivalent to six months of their salaries for the delay and nonissuance of a business permit to a funeral parlor.
Yulo, Archie Montelibano and Warren Jocson were found guilty of violating Section 21(e) of Republic Act No. 11032, which amended Republic Act No. 9485, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.
Montelibano is Moises Padilla’s civil registrar, administrator-designate and human resource management officer-designate. Jocson is the officer in charge of the Business Permit Licensing Office of the municipality.
The suspension was based on the recommendation of Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Abigail Marie Cinco, who, in a decision dated Feb. 20, but released to the media on Aug. 7, sought the imposition of a fine payable to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The fine may be deducted from the respondents’ retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any other receivable from their office.
Garcia-Yulo said she could not discuss the case at this time but said they would file a motion for reconsideration.
“This is one of the challenges we face in public service. We cannot please everybody, and there may indeed be complaints, but this will not weaken our commitment to serving for the good of the many,” Garcia-Yulo said.
The complainant, Ramona Nalagon Villaflor, filed a complaint against the three on Sept. 11, 2023, for grave abuse of authority and neglect of duty due to the unreasonable delay or failure to act on her application for a business permit.The complainant is the owner of the Luz Agustin Nalagon Memorial Homes (Nalagon MH) in Moises Padilla.
Villaflor said that in 2022, she secured a mayor’s permit and business license from the municipal government after complying with all the requirements. At that time, she claimed, her relative was still a political ally of Garcia-Yulo.
In January 2023, Villaflor said she applied for the renewal of her business permit after complying with all the requirements. The application, however, was not acted upon for more than four months, she said.
Her application for the renewal of the business permit was ultimately denied in a June 26, 2023, Notice of Denied Business Permit, the complainant said.
While the complaint involved alleged grave abuse of authority and neglect of duty, the Office of the Ombudsman found the respondents guilty of violating the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act “for failing to render government services within the prescribed processing time on any application or request without due cause.”
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental and two other municipal officials to pay a fine equivalent to six months of their salaries for the delay and nonissuance of a business permit to a funeral parlor.
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| https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/9/former-quezon-mayor-wanted-for-illegal-recruitment-1315 |
Authorities are searching for former General Luna, Quezon Mayor Matt Erwin Florido in connection with an illegal recruitment case.The Regional Trial Court Branch 96 in Catanauan has issued a warrant of arrest against Florido and his secretary, Joma Christina Briones, for large-scale illegal recruitment — a non-bailable offense.Briones has already surrendered and has been arraigned.The case began after 14 alleged victims filed complaints against Florido, claiming he promised them jobs in South Korea as seasonal farm workers.In an interview with DZMM, Atty. Kath Noveno, legal counsel for the victims, said Florido allegedly began recruiting in 2021 while serving as mayor of General Luna.The recruitment was reportedly presented as a local government program led by Florido to send seasonal farm workers to South Korea.Florido also introduced a Korean national as a partner in the program.A municipal resolution was passed granting Mayor Florido permission to send seasonal farm workers to a certain town in South Korea.(The area named in the resolution is different from where the seasonal farm workers were to be sent)Noveno added that Florido also had no authorization from the Department of Migrant Workers to recruit workers for South Korea.“We tried to get certification from the Department of Migrant Workers if ex-Mayor Florido was indeed authorized to recruit, hindi po siya authorized (he was not authorized),” Noveno said.Although the victims had submitted the required documents and attended orientations, they were still unable to leave for South Korea, reportedly for failing to meet qualifications.The lawyer added the workers were told their expenses towards deployment would be reimbursed but that Florido did not give any details on how that would be done.ABS-CBN News tried to reach Florido for comment, but he could not be contacted by phone and did not respond to messages on Messenger.Florido ran for congressman of Quezon Province’s third district in the May 2025 elections but was disqualified by the Commission on Elections over a vote-buying case.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/11/ex-councilor-tagged-in-albay-quarry-payola-arrested |
Albay Gov. Noel Rosal has ordered an investigation into possible corruption in the province’s quarry operations following the arrest of a former municipal councilor of Tiwi, Albay in an alleged payola scheme.
The suspect was apprehended on Friday afternoon in Barangay Miisi, Daraga, Albay during an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Legazpi and NBI Naga District Offices.Authorities said the suspect was arrested following a complaint from quarry operator who alleged that the suspect demanded P320,000 in exchange for continued quarry operations.Rosal thanked the NBI for its swift action and assured full cooperation from the provincial government in the investigation.“While his guilt is yet to be determined, let this serve as a warning. This administration is serious in fixing the flaws in the system of quarrying in Albay,” Rosal said.The governor said the LGU-level probe will look into the alleged existence of a payola system and seek to identify other personalities who may be involved.Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said in a recent media interview that some individuals have been demanding money from quarry operators.He claimed that the unofficial charge went up from 12 percent to as much as 25 percent per cubic meter of extracted material.Authorities have yet to file formal charges against the suspect but Rosal’s announcement signals a broader crackdown on corruption in Albay’s quarry industry.
A former councilor has been arrested for being involved in a payola scheme.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/955610/fire-inspector-nabbed-for-robbery-extortion-found-guilty-nbi/story/ |
A fire inspector who was previously arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents for attempting to extort P400,000 from a job applicant has been found guilty by the Ombudsman, the bureau said Tuesday.
In a statement, the NBI said the Office of the Ombudsman found the fire inspector administratively liable for violating the Republic Act 6713 and grave misconduct.
He was dismissed from service with perpetual disqualification from holding office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of his Civil Service Eligibility, and is prohibited from the Civil Service Exam.
The NBI arrested the man during an entrapment operation on June 27.
According to the bureau, the arrest stemmed from the complaint of an applicant that the fire inspector asked “thanksgiving money” from her in the amount of P400,000 in exchange for her inclusion in the final roster of candidates for the position of Fire Safety Officer I.
She said fulfilled all necessary requirements and was fully qualified for the position, but was allegedly denied the position due to the lack of a backer.
A fire inspector who was previously arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents for attempting to extort P400,000 from a job applicant has been found guilty by the Ombudsman.
Criminal complaints have been filed against Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa on the reported P1.29 billion alleged unliquidated funds transferred in 2024 to UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, for the purchase of life-saving vaccines and essential drugs.The complaints were filed by “Concerned DOH Employees” in a letter received last August 11 by Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) Officer-in-Charge Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo.The “Concerned DOH Employees” said they submitted the complaints anonymously “out of concern for retaliation, but with a firm sense of duty to uphold the public trust.”The letter stated that despite the advance of the still unliquidated funds, Secretary Herbosa reportedly initiated a new procurement request to purchase vaccines from UNICEF for an additional P524,926,193.47.Herbosa was charged with violations of Section 3(g) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Article 171(d) of the Revised Penal Code of Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Documents; and RA 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.Secretary Herbosa could not be contacted immediately for comment as of posting time. Manila Bulletin will come out with his comment once it is filed with the OMB.The complaints stated: “It bears stressing that the items under the Subsidiary Ledger of UNICEF were mostly received and/or delivered in February, March, and June 2024. As such, under government accounting rules, the liquidation of these advances becomes due and demandable. As of July 30, 2024, the subject cash advances remained unliquidated.”It was also alleged that Herbosa allowed the liquidation deadline to lapse without rendering any settlement of accounts.“Worse, instead of fulfilling this duty, Secretary Herbosa sought to procure additional vaccines using more public funds, without accounting for the first P1.29 billion," it was also alleged.The complaints also alleged that the cash advances were erroneously declared as advances to contractors since UNICEF is not a contractor but a third-party international organization.It was alleged that Herbosa did not make a "mere clerical error" in misrepresenting the cash advances, but "deliberately" misclassifying it to mislead auditors and other regulatory bodies.At the same time, the complaints accused Herbosa of "excessive and inordinate delays" in resolving protests resulting in “several delays of vaccines and medicines… and protests were left to languish for up to 245 days without resolution.”While some protests were resolved, many others were "indefinitely stalled," the complaints also stated.Citing a Commission on Audit (COA) observation memorandum, the complaints stated that there were protests involving P1.2 billion worth of pneumococcal and polio vaccines which remained unresolved as of June 11, 2025. On the other hand, it was alleged that the protests by a certain firm were immediately resolved.The complaints alleged: "These patterns raise legitimate and serious concerns that Secretary Herbosa's conduct either favored certain bidders or punished others, in a manner grossly detrimental to fair competition and public welfare. His omissions, when viewed in contest, amount not only to gross negligence but to a calculated disregard for legal obligations to the detriment of public interest and fair procurement.”The “DOH Concerned Employees” told the OMB that “the DOH exists to serve the Filipino people - not to protect the interests of a few.”They stressed: “The people deserve nothing less than the full, unvarnished truth dragged into the light, no matter how fiercely it is buried beneath layers of concealment and official pretense.”
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/651801/drunk-police-officer-allegedly-assaults-foreigner-in-bohol |
A police officer from the Guindulman Municipal Police Station in Bohol Province is facing serious charges after an American national reported that the officer allegedly threatened him in front of his wife who was holding their five-month-old son and shouted at him outside the town market on Monday afternoon, August 11, 2025.
The officer has been identified as Police Corporal Marcelo Olaer, also known as “Siloy,” who was reportedly intoxicated during the incident.
In a Facebook post by Kenny Foster, the American national, he stated that while he was outside the market, the officer ordered him to pull over. However, as he was about to comply, the officer allegedly pushed him and immediately grabbed his firearm.
The officer then continued shouting, turning around, and taunting them with hand gestures. Witnesses at the market feared that the situation might escalate into a shooting.
Still not satisfied, Olaer allegedly kicked Foster’s motorcycle and attempted to harm his wife, who was holding their child. He then asked her what her nationality was.
Foster tried to protect his wife, but Olaer allegedly punched him in the side, causing injuries to his ribs.
Foster called the 911 hotline, and a few minutes later, police officers from Guindulman arrived. However, the responding officers reportedly told them to go home and take a different route.
“I called 911 and a couple of cops came over. Removed him from the situation. Let us go to the police station outpost while on the phone and when he was still screaming ‘F*** you!’, throwing fingers in my face, he punched me in the ribcage and pushed me a few times,” Foster wrote.
Foster has filed a formal complaint at the Guindulman Municipal Police Station against Police Corporal Marcelo Olaer.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Norman Nuez, spokesperson for the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO), said they have instructed the chief of Guindulman to obtain an affidavit from the foreigner to proceed with criminal and administrative charges.
(I also called the attention of the investigator. This morning, the American reportedly went to the Guindulman police station. I spoke with the chief so they can formally obtain a statement from the foreigner who complained about a police officer who, in my view, made threats… and that report will serve as the basis for our investigator so the officer can respond to the complaint.)
In addition, the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) will conduct a separate investigation.
Nuez admitted that this is not the first complaint against Corporal Olaer. In 2020, when retired Police Brigadier General Jonathan Cabal was still the provincial police chief, Olaer was also charged for firing his weapon while intoxicated.
As a result, he faced administrative charges and was suspended and demoted from Police Master Sergeant to Corporal.
Nuez noted that Olaer is generally a good officer, but his behavior drastically changes when he is drunk, often resulting in him drawing and firing his weapon.
While the investigation is ongoing, Olaer’s issued firearms, both long and short, have been confiscated, and he may be placed under camp restriction.
(We have disarmed him of both his long and short firearms, and there’s a strong chance he’ll be transferred to Camp Dagohoy and placed under restriction, especially since this is his second offense.)
The Provincial Internal Affairs Service will also conduct a separate investigation into Olaer’s administrative case.
A police officer from the Guindulman Municipal Police Station in Bohol Province is facing serious charges after an American national reported that the officer allegedly threatened him in front of his wife who was holding their five-month-old son and shouted at him outside the town market on Monday afternoon, August 11, 2025.
Police and soldiers here have launched a manhunt against two men who shot and seriously injured a school principal here at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Police identified the victim as Arlyn Alcebar, principal of the Agriculture Elementary School in Barangay Agriculture.
Alcebar was driving her sports utility vehicle and was about to enter the school grounds when two men on a motorcycle arrived. The back rider pulled a gun and shot the school head multiple times before they quickly fled.
Responding traffic officers and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) members quickly took her to the hospital on a tricycle. The Midsayap municipal police station has yet to issue an official statement.
Midsayap Mayor Rolly Sacdalan condemned the attack against Alcebar and directed the police to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
Alcebar is new to the Agriculture Elementary School, having been transferred from Salunayan Elementary School, also in Midsayap, as part of the Department of Education’s reshuffling of school heads.
A school principal has been assassinated.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/11/sandiganbayan-affirms-conviction-of-ex-lto-official-in-cagayan-de-oro-city |
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that upheld the conviction of a former official of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Region X based in Cagayan de Oro City for malversation of public property.Former law enforcement acting chief Andrew E. Tupag Jr. was convicted by the regional trial court (RTC) for not returning a Sony Cybershot camera, one of the equipment used in LTO’s law enforcement operations from 2006 to 2012.The RTC’s decision was upheld by the Sandiganbayan in its March 18, 2025 decision. Tupag filed a motion for reconsideration.In 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) charged Tupag with violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) on malversation of public property.After trial, the RTC convicted Tupag on March 13, 2029 and sentenced him to a prison term ranging from four months and one day to four years, two months and one day. He was ordered to pay a fine of P15,043 and the return the same amount to the LTO representing the purchase price of the camera. He was also banned permanently from holding public office.When his motion for reconsideration was denied by the RTC, Tupag appealed before the Sandiganbayan which affirmed his conviction.In a resolution, issued last August 4, the anti-graft court affirmed its March 18 decision.It said that Tupag’s arguments were unmeritorious since the issues raised have already been considered and passed upon by the court in its decision.It reiterated that Tupag failed to prove that he returned the Sony Cybershot camera as there was no document presented that proved its return."In sum, the court finds that the prosecution was able to establish all the elements of malversation beyond reasonable doubt. The conviction of Tupag is sustained," the resolution stated.The six-page resolution was written by Third Division Chairperson Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda with the concurrence of Associate Justices Ronald B. Moreno and Kevin Narce B. Vivero.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a murder complaint against police officers accused of alleged involvement in the shooting of a member of the Bugkalot-ilongot Indigenous Cultural Community in Nagtipunan, Quirino, the bureau said Wednesday.
In a statement, the NBI said that the murder complaint was filed against seven police officers with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Quirino on August 5 over the shooting of Jim White.
The NBI said that White previously reached a tribal-mediated amicable settlement in his pending criminal cases.
However, according to the bureau, investigation showed that the cops allegedly staged an ambush-style operation a day before the surrender, resulting in White’s death.
Further, the NBI said that all bullet entry wounds were on his back.
It added that this indicated that he was shot while defenseless, contradicting claims that he fired first.
“The NBI also conducted an on-site investigation in the far-flung mountainous area where the crime occurred and concluded that the killing was executed with treachery,” the NBI said.
Seven PNP officers have been charged with murder.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256506 |
The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former Quezon City councilor in connection with ghost employees supposedly hired as field and area coordinators and street sweepers from 2009 to 2010.
In a 67-page decision dated Aug. 12, 2025, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division sentenced Dante de Guzman to up to 10 years for each of 16 counts of malversation and up to eight years for 16 counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Although the prosecution was able to present only six individuals who testified to their non-involvement in the position under which they were officially designated, the evidence reveals a payroll scheme that was both systematic and well-coordinated,” the court noted.
“This raises the strong probability that other ghost employees, beyond those identified in these cases, may have likewise been listed as payees despite rendering no actual service under their purported designations. In the same vein, it is not remote that similar schemes may have been perpetrated by other officials in other offices,” it said.
The court also ordered de Guzman’s perpetual disqualification from public office, forfeiture of his retirement or gratuity benefits under any law, and to indemnify the Quezon City government PHP361,500 in civil liability.
Last year he was sentenced to up to 32 years in prison for projects that, on paper, supposedly provided free raincoats, tents, sports equipment and other items for his constituents 16 years ago.
The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former Quezon City councilor in connection with ghost employees supposedly hired as field and area coordinators and street sweepers from 2009 to 2010.
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