It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/27/cop-yields-p19-m-smuggled-cigarettes-in-lanao-del-sur-checkpoint |
Alert police officers arrested one of their own in Lanao del Sur for transporting over P1.9-million worth of smuggled cigarettes before dawn Thursday.
Police Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), identified the arrested police officer as Staff Sgt. Nasser, 40, an active member of the Lanao del Sur police force, and his companion, Ansary Barua, 42, both from Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
Ventura said a joint police team from the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Battalion and Malabang Municipal Police Station (MPS) set up a checkpoint in Barangay Jose Abad Santos (JAS), Malabang, at around 4 a.m. after reports of ongoing transport of smuggled cigarettes in the area.
An investigation by Malabang MPS showed that a van stopped a few meters from the police checkpoint and attempted to escape, but the driver was arrested. “They were supposed to deliver the contraband to Marawi City when flagged down in Barangay JAS,” Ventura said.
Police found 50 boxes or 2,500 reams of San Marino smuggled cigarettes properly piled inside a white Toyota Hi-Ace van with license plates NDG-3631.
It has an estimated market value of P1,962,500.
The suspects are now detained at the Malabang police station, while the confiscated cigarettes are set to be turned over to the Bureau of Customs.
Ventura commended the police team for enforcing the law equally, even if the offender is a colleague.
A cop has been busted for smuggling cigarettes.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/27/sandiganbayan-affirms-forfeiture-of-late-muntinlupa-city-mayors-unlawfully-acquired-properties |
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that declared as “unlawfully acquired” and ordered the forfeiture of several properties owned by the late former Muntinlupa City mayor Maximo A. Argana and members of his family.
In a resolution issued last Nov. 24, the anti-graft court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by the Arganas.
Last Aug. 18, the court granted the petition for forfeiture in Civil Case No. 0026 against the late Argana, his wife Maria Remedios, Donata Almendrala De Argana, Luis Argana Jr., Peregrino Argana, Gelacio Argana, Eufrocinio Nofuente, Ampara Argana Nofuente, Juanito Rogelio, Milagros Argana Rogelio, Maria Felicidad Argana, Maria Dorotea Argana, and Redefor South Gold Property Management and Development Corporation.
Maria Remedios Argana-Antonio, Maria Dorotea Argana, and the Estate of the deceased Donata Almendrala -de Argana filed a motion for reconsideration last Sept. 15, while Milagros Argana Rogelio, Luis Argana Jr., the estate of Juanito Rogelio, Amparo Argana Nofuente, Estate of Eufrocinio Nofuente, Maria Felicidad Argana-Espeleta, and the estate of Gelacio Argana filed their own motion last Sept. 23.
The first motion argued that the petition for forfeiture was filed during the prohibited period under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 1379, the Forfeiture of Ill-Gotten Wealth Act, rendering it null and void and depriving the court of jurisdiction to hear and decide the case.
The second motion insisted that there was no direct evidence on record that would prove that the subject properties and assets which were forfeited in the case were actually ill-gotten wealth.
But the anti-graft court disagreed. It said: "Based on the foregoing, it is clear that the court has considered all the evidence presented, but still concluded that the same were insufficient to prove, to the satisfaction of the court, that the respondents have lawfully acquired the properties in question."
"All told, the court finds no cogent or compelling reason to warrant a reconsideration of its Decision," it added.
The 19-page resolution was written by Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno with the concurrence of Associate Justices Karl B. Miranda and Edgardo Caldona.
The late Muntinlupa mayor, who served from 1964 to 1967 and then from 1972 up to his death in June 1985, had reportedly acquired no less than 251 Original/Transfer Certificates of Title to parcels of land located in Muntinlupa and its neighboring towns as well as other assets recorded in the name of his spouse, daughters, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, and family corporation.
Red flags were raised by state prosecutors as Argana had no other known sources of income which may justify the acquisition of said properties, and his income as mayor was manifestly out of proportion to his acquired properties.
While his family members argued that the late mayor was engaged in the active practice of his profession as a lawyer, they were unable to provide any basis or representation of this other source of income.
In its Aug. 18 decision, the Sandiganbayan declared as unlawfully acquired and forfeited in favor of the state several properties located in Barrio Bagbagan in Alabang, Muntinlupa; Muntinlupa; and Laguna.
Also ordered forfeited were several properties in the name of Maria Remedios, Maria Felicidad, and Maria Dorotea Argana; other respondents Milagros Rogelio and Gelacio Argana; as well as Redefor Southgold Property Management and Development Corporation.
The other personal properties such as 19,425 shares of capital stock of Sampaguita Savings and Loan Association, Inc. owned by Maximo Argana worth P1.6 million and 5,000 shares of stock of Redefor owned by Maximo Argana, Donata Argana, Ma. Remedios Argana, Ma. Felicidad Argana, and Ma. Dorotea Argana worth P125,000 were also ordered forfeited.
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that declared as “unlawfully acquired” and ordered the forfeiture of several properties owned by the late former Muntinlupa City mayor Maximo A. Argana and members of his family.
The Sandiganbayan has issued two arrest warrants against suspended San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. for graft and malversation of public funds in connection with an alleged unlawful land purchase in 2023.
Dated Nov. 17, the arrest warrant for graft allows bail of P90,000, while the other criminal case allows no bail.
Both warrants were issued and signed by First Division acting chairperson Bayani Jacinto, according to copies obtained by the Inquirer on Friday.
Authorities have yet to serve the warrants at Punsalan’s home in San Simon. He and his lawyer did not respond to calls from the Inquirer.
The Office of the Ombudsman had suspended Punsalan for six months in October 2025 for grave misconduct.
The current cases involve the purchase of a P45-million private land without authority from the municipal board.
Punsalan reportedly could not justify the purchase, which also led the Pampanga provincial board to suspend him over the same issue.
Additional cases were filed after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested him in an extortion sting last August.
The supposed victim, a Filipino-Chinese businessman, alleged that the mayor demanded an advance of P30 million and sought a second payout of P80 million.The San Simon and Pampanga police commanders, along with the NBI regional director, were tasked to serve the warrants.
Punsalan is also subject to a hold departure order dated Nov. 17, according to the warrants.
The Sandiganbayan has issued two arrest warrants against suspended San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. for graft and malversation of public funds in connection with an alleged unlawful land purchase in 2023.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/11/29/2490577/29-ncr-cops-dismissed-past-3-months |
The National Capital Region Police Office has dismissed 29 officers since Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez became the acting Philippine National Police chief three months ago, the NCRPO reported yesterday.
According to the NCRPO report, 248 administrative cases were processed from Aug. 26 to Nov. 25. Of the number, 179 were resolved with 29 police officers dismissed from service. The report also showed that nine officers were demoted, 64 were suspended and 32 were reprimanded.
At least four police officers were fined and four others had their salaries forfeited.
During the same period, murder and rape cases dropped by 32 percent and 29 percent, respectively. Incidents of carnapping also decreased by 79 percent.
The NCRPO reported having arrested 1,413 most wanted persons and 2,264 other wanted persons, with the crime solution efficiency standing at 76.15 percent –indicating that nearly eight of 10 index crime cases were considered solved.
29 PNP officers have been dismissed in the past three months for various offenses.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/30/11-persons-8-of-them-cebu-city-officials-charged-in-p200-m-malversation-of-public-funds |
Eleven persons, eight of them officials of the Cebu City local government, have been charged with non-bailable offense of malversation of public funds involving P200 million paid to a garbage collector in 2021.
Charged by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) before the Sandiganbayan were former city administrator Floro Quimque Casas Jr.; Department of Public Services head John Jigo Gaston Dacua; Garbage, Collection and Disposal officer-in-charge Grace M. Luardo-Silva; inspection officer Allen Omlero Ceballos; inspectors Romelito Asinjo Datan and Mark Abarquez Ugbinar; city accountant Jerome Visarra Ornopia; and acting city treasurer Mare Vae Fernandez Reyes.
Also charged were three private individuals of contractor DOCAST Construction/JJ&J Construction and General Supply -- incorporator and authorized managing officer Jayra Angelic Maningo Ruiz-Javier, officer-in charge and operations manager John David Sevilles Javier, and encoder Erika May S. Quino.
All of them were also charged with graft in violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Bail recommended for the graft charge was P90,000 for each accused.
Under the criminal charge sheets, those charged were accused of having allowed DOCAST/JJ&J to receive the aggregate amount of P239,728,280.62 in the collection and disposal of the city’s garbage to the dumpsite owned by the ARN Central Waste Management, Inc.
The anti-graft court was told that DOCAST/JJ&J was allowed to charge a rate of P1,800 per one ton of garbage instead of P600 per ton.
Last July, the OMB ordered the indictment of the 11 persons as well as the dismissal of the former city officials and employees from the service, cancellation of their civil service eligibility, forfeiture of their retirement benefits, disqualification from holding public office, and ban from taking civil service exams.
The cases stemmed from the complaints filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in 2021 by then Cebu City vice mayor Michael Rama.
The NBI’s probe showed that ARN charged only P600 per ton and issued Truck Scale Slips (TSS) for each delivery.
The company also allowed city and barangay-owned trucks to dump waste at the site, charging the same rate of P600 per ton through DOCAST/JJ&J, it said.
It also said that DOCAST/JJ&J failed to separate the tonnage delivered by its own trucks from those delivered by government trucks in its billing to the city.
It added that DOCAST/JJ&J billed the entire tonnage at P1,800 per ton and made it appear that only its own trucks handled the deliveries.
On July 8, 2021, ARN banned DOCAST/JJ&J and the city trucks from using its facility due to unpaid bills from Jan. 29 to July 7.
However, DOCAST/JJ&J continued to bill the city government until Aug. 10, 2021 using Truck Scale Slips that were later found to be falsified.
Eleven persons, eight of them officials of the Cebu City local government, have been charged with non-bailable offense of malversation of public funds involving P200 million paid to a garbage collector in 2021.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2148875/arrest-warrant-out-for-porac-mayor-over-pogo-hub |
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the National Capital Judicial Region (NCJR) Branch 265 in Pasig City has issued a warrant of arrest against Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil of Porac town in Pampanga for seven counts of graft in connection with the operation of an online scam hub, Lucky South 99, in the town.
Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub, was initially touted as a legally operating massive online gambling facility until it was raided by authorities in July last year for engaging in human trafficking and other illegal activities.
The facility remained largely untouched until President Marcos ordered the closure of Pogo hubs in July 2024.
Dated Nov. 28, the warrant was signed by NCJR RTC Branch 265 acting Presiding Judge Josephine Advento. She set the bail for Capil’s release at P90,000.
The Inquirer tried to reach Capil on Sunday, but he did not answer the calls or text messages.
The case was filed by the police, who accused the mayor of being liable for his alleged failure to regulate the operation of Lucky South 99.
The mayor and the municipal board issued Lucky South 99, owned by Chinese and several Filipinos, a certificate of no objection for business processing in less than two days in year 2000.
That document was used by Lucky South 99 until 2024 for gaming operations despite nonrenewal of permit by the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. as early as 2022.In September last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission also revoked the corporate registration of Lucky South 99 Corp. for illegally operating the Pogo facility in Pampanga.
The police also alleged that Capil failed to verify reports of illegal activities, such as torture and financial scam, within the 10-hectare compound leased by an affiliated firm inside the Grand Palazzo Royale.
In a hearing at the Pampanga Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board), Capil denied having knowledge of the operations of a posh resort with a modern firing range reportedly used by a Pogo boss affiliated with then Bamban, Tarlac, Mayor Alice Guo, whose nationality was found to be Chinese.
Guo has recently been found guilty of qualified trafficking and was ordered by the Pasig RTC last Thursday transferred from the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, following her conviction.
Another person linked to Lucky South 99 operations, Cassandra Ong, is now considered a fugitive.
The Regional Trial Court in the National Capital Judicial Region Branch 265 in Pasig City has issued a warrant of arrest against Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil of Porac town in Pampanga for seven counts of graft in connection with the operation of an online scam hub, Lucky South 99, in the town.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for “deficiencies in documentation” on the distributed welfare goods worth P110.1 million in 2024.In its 2024 Annual Audit Report (AAR) released on Dec. 1, the COA said: “A review of the transactions affecting the Welfare Goods Expenses account amounting to P110,119,991.44 for CY (calendar year) 2024 revealed prevalence of deficiencies in the documentation in the distribution of welfare goods."
It said that one of the deficiencies is the failure of the OVP to provide a verified and certified Master List of Beneficiaries, Situation Report (SitRep), and Mission Order which should have been prepared before the start of the distribution of welfare goods amounting to P61,875,816.15.
The OVP also distributed In-Kind Donations worth P641,890.33 to affected beneficiaries without the required documents, it added..
The COA pointed out that in some cases, the printed scanned copies of some Post-Activity Report (PAR) and Relief Distribution Sheet (RDS) or Distribution List for the distribution of welfare goods amounting to P26,197,000 were attached to the Request and Issue Slips (RIS) instead of the original copies.
Thus, the COA said that state auditors pointed out it was contrary to Section 11.0 of the Policy Manual for Disaster Operations Program.
Upon request, however, it said that the OVP’s Accounting Division was able to provide the audit team the original copies for welfare goods totalling P19,440,000.
At the same time, the COA said its audit team noted that the RIS was belatedly submitted to the General Services Division (GSD).
It also said that various distributions of welfare goods amounting to P38,372,098.01 were not assigned with an RIS number on a timely basis and incurred delays of one to six months from the date when it should be reported.
As a result, it said that the audit team was unable to verify and determine the quantity of the welfare goods distributed and the basis of the selection of the qualified beneficiaries.
The COA explained that the SitRep serves as the evidence that the incident or disaster had happened and is used as the basis of the preparation of the Mission Order, while the Master List of Beneficiaries serves as the basis for the preparation of the Distribution List to determine the quantity of the welfare goods to be distributed.
The OVP likewise did not have a prescribed format for its relief distribution sheet (RDS), which is one of the documentary requirements in the distribution of welfare goods, the COA said.
The COA has recommended that the OVP revisit the Policy Manual on Disaster Operations Program and submit the verified and certified Master List of Beneficiaries and other important documents to the Accounting Division. After which, the Chief Accountant should ensure that all distribution of welfare goods is supported with complete and original documentation, it said.
The audit team also required the submission of documentary requirements for distribution of relief items, the COA said.
For its part, the OVP said that it is committed to observe the corrective measures and ensure full compliance with internal policies.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/01/coa-flags-mmda-over-delays-in-p167-m-flood-management-project |
The Commission on Audit (COA) has tagged the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for delays, some for almost two years, in the implementation of the more than P167 million Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1 (MMFMP1).
In its 2024 annual audit report (AAR) on the MMDA, the COA said that there were five completed projects worth P80,297,019.70 which were delayed by 13 to 322 days, while four ongoing projects worth P87,206,561.15 experienced delays of 676 days.
"These delays were mainly due to logistical issues, scheduling conflicts, resource constraints, and unforeseen events," the COA report stated.
It said its audit team noted the underutilization of loan funds amounting to P29,574,536.06, which led to the incurrence of commitment fees for 2018 to 2024 of P37,405,299.46.
To recall, the Philippine government, through the Department of Finance (DOF), signed a loan agreement with the World Bank Group - International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the MMFMP1 on Sept. 28, 2017.
The loan would assist the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in improving flood management in selected areas of Metro Manila.
The MMFMP Phase 1 consists of four components -- Modernization of Drainage Areas, Minimizing Dumped Solid Waste in Waterways, Participatory Housing and Resettlement, and Project Management and Coordination. The MMDA is the implementing agency for the second component and the co-implementor of the fourth component.
The COA said its audit team learned that 23 out of the 68 projects under MMFMP1 were completed, while 40 are still ongoing and five were not implemented due to failed bidding.
Among the completed projects, only 18 were finished within their original contract timelines, it said.
"While the justifications for the time extensions highlight a range of external and unforeseen factors, it appears that several of these issues could have been mitigated with more thorough planning and a meticulous evaluation of supplier and contractor capabilities," the COA said.
It also said: "Resource unavailability and scheduling conflicts could have been anticipated with better coordination and contingency planning. Additionally, a more rigorous review of prospective suppliers' and contractors' ability to meet project requirements -- considering factors such as inventory reliability and scheduling flexibility -- might have prevented delays caused by material shortages or conflicting timelines."
The COA said the MMDA should support the remaining phases of the project and pay continued attention to planning. The DPWH and MMDA should have clear communication channels and regular progress tracking as this would help address field-level challenges and support the timely completion of ongoing works, it also said.
At the same time, the COA asked them to define responsibilities, monitor progress, and identify implementation risks early, as well as make full use of the extended loan period so that the project delivers its intended benefits to target communities in a timely and efficient manner.
As for the underutilized funds, the COA said that commitment fees are standard in loan agreements. However, this only reflects "inefficiencies" in project execution.
It said: "This underutilization can be attributed to several factors, including delays in procurement processes and challenges in project planning and coordination among implementing units. These operational inefficiencies contributed to missed opportunities for timely fund utilization."
The COA then asked the MMDA to establish a robust monitoring system to track project progress and cash flow, which would enable quick identification of discrepancies and timely adjustments to timelines of funding requests as needed.
The Commission on Audit has tagged the Metro Manila Development Authority for delays, some for almost two years, in the implementation of the more than P167 million Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2149368/office-of-the-president-flagged-over-p14-4-m-uncollected-receivables |
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Office of the President (OP) for failing to collect P14.4 million in overdue receivables from other government agencies for foreign trips that were made from 2022 and 2024.
The outstanding amount, initially shouldered by the OP, covered hotel accommodations worth P11.95 million and airfare totaling P2.4 million, among others. It was incurred by various agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Senate and Presidential Management Staff, for trips abroad, including to the United States, China, Japan and Europe between Sept. 2022 and May 2024.
“The continued delay in the settlement deprives the OP of funds originally budgeted for their operation, thereby affecting the delivery of program projects and activities for stakeholders and increasing risks of uncollected receivables,” the COA said in its annual audit report published on Monday.
Under COA Circular No. 2016-005, all government entities are mandated to do regular monitoring and analysis of receivable accounts “to ensure that these are collected when these become due and demandable.”
State auditors noted that of the P14.4 million, 52 percent or P7.47 million has been overdue for more than two years, while 45 percent or P6.46 million has yet to be settled after one or two years.
“This indicated a need for the OP to strengthen its collection efforts to recover these amounts from debtors,” the COA said.
It also cited the lack of prior agreements with the government agencies concerned about fare arrangements and other daily travel expenses. This, it added, made it challenging to collect the amounts due, specifically those incurred in chartered flights.
Upon receiving the invoice for hotel accommodation and airfare from the companies concerned, the OP forwards the billing for individual plane fares and accommodation expenses to the respective government agencies.But the COA noted that no follow-up demands are issued to the debtor-agencies once the accounts become due, as it emphasized the need for an improved monitoring and collection mechanism.
For 2025, the OP sought a travel budget of P1.054 billion, lower by P94 million than the P1.148-billion allocation in the 2024 national budget. For 2023, the OP requested a travel allocation of P893.87 million, with government officials saying the expenses were justified by the amount of investments and trade deals brought home by President Marcos from his foreign travels.
The Commission on Audit has flagged the Office of the President for failing to collect P14.4 million in overdue receivables from other government agencies for foreign trips that were made from 2022 and 2024.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, and 13 other city officials are facing graft and usurpation of authority complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman after Dr. Leilani Lacuna, sister of former mayor Honey Lacuna, accused them of illegally ousting her as Liga ng mga Barangay president and ex-officio city councilor.
Lacuna filed the complaints on Tuesday morning, accusing the 15 officials of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.
In her complaint, Lacuna detailed several incidents she said formed a coordinated effort to remove her from office.
These included alleged abuse of her Approved Travel Authority for a personal trip; actions by the Manila City Council questioning her honesty and performance; and a meeting with Atienza, where she claims she was pressured to resign, among others.
“Domagoso and his cohorts targeted the barangay captains using intimidation and various forms of harassment to remove me from office. Domagoso and his accomplices will be held accountable under the law for their blatant violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for the criminal usurpation of authority,” Lacuna said in a statement released to the media after filing the complaint.
“Their motive is political vendetta and the establishment of a full-blown dictatorship in Manila to take control of the barangay budgets. This tramples on the law and the rights of every resident of Manila,” she added.
Earlier, Lacuna and five other barangay chairpersons had already filed a petition before the Manila Regional Trial Court seeking to nullify their removal as officials of the Liga ng mga Barangay, including Lacuna’s removal as ex-officio councilor representing Manila’s 897 barangays.
INQUIRER.net sought the reaction of Domagoso regarding the complaints, but he has yet to reply as of posting time.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, and 13 other city officials are facing graft and usurpation of authority complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman after Dr. Leilani Lacuna, sister of former mayor Honey Lacuna, accused them of illegally ousting her as Liga ng mga Barangay president and ex-officio city councilor.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264443 |
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed under restrictive custody six police officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) allegedly involved in stealing evidence money seized from a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) raid in Bataan last October 2024, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Remulla said a total of PHP141,133,483 was seized from the Bataan raid but a court on Nov. 19 ordered the return of the sum, along with other confiscated items, as it ruled that the operation was illegal after an inventory of the money revealed that around P13.4 million had gone missing.
“After careful investigation, the (CIDG) members involved in the cover-up and the crime and the pilferage of the evidence have been identified. The chain of custody has been studied and perfected and we have now determined who the real culprits are... When the court ruled that the search was illegal, the money was returned to the owners,” Remulla told reporters.
“Upon the opening of the evidence, out of PHP141 million, only PHP128 million was left. What was left on the other box was boodle money, fake money. So upon careful investigation we have identified the culprits,” he added, referring to the fake money operatives use in buy-busy operations.
At the same press briefing, CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico said the raid by CIDG operatives and agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) was carried out on Oct. 29 last year by virtue of a search warrant for possible qualified human trafficking violations.
The raided yielded money was kept at the CIDG for safekeeping until Morico, upon assumption as CIDG chief in September, ordered an inventory of all cases and pieces of evidence under the custody of the unit.
On Sept. 25, the newly designated evidence custodian of the CIDG discovered that nine boxes full of cash were not included in the inventory list and had gone missing. An investigation revealed that all missing boxes of cash were brought home by the former CIDG custodian.
The nine boxes were later taken back to the CIDG but Morico said they opted not to open the boxes since they were all sealed with a signature of the judge handling the case.
On Nov. 29, a string of criminal charges was filed against six policemen involved, namely Pat. Rolman Andaya (seizing officer); Executive M/Sgt. Erick Castro (investigator); Senior M/Sgt. Michael Camillo (investigator); Pat. Kenji Francisco (evidence custodian); Pat. Jesus Fulgencio and Pat. Raymark Solas.
They were charged for violation of Article 310, or Qualified Theft; Article 217, or Malversation of Public Funds; Article 228, or Opening of Closed Documents; Article 171, or Falsification of Public Documents; and, Article 168 in relation to Article 166, or the Illegal Possession or Use of False Treasury Notes or Bank Notes.
"Among the target of the administrative case that will be filed is grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to best interest of public service, negligence or violation of PNP evidence handling protocol,” Morico said.
Meanwhile, National Police Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said there is no room in the PNP for corrupt police officers.
"I actually commend Gen. Morico and PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez because their actions were prompt and they discovered it through their proactive measures. It didn’t explode in their face and they discovered this,” said Calinisan.
Calinisan said the Napolcom will not intervene in the ongoing probe and will just wait for the administrative cases to be filed before them.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed under restrictive custody six police officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) allegedly involved in stealing evidence money seized from a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) raid in Bataan last October 2024, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday.
Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga has been suspended for 60 days without pay and allowances after the House of Representatives adopted the recommendation of its ethics and privileges committee over a complaint filed against him for social media posts “unbefitting of a House member.”During the plenary session on Monday, 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos said the committee, after deliberating on the complaint, found the lawmaker guilty of disorderly behavior by violation of Section 141(a), Rule 20 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
A total of 249 House members voted in favor of the committee’s recommendation, while five opposed it and 11 others abstained.
In reading the committee report, Abalos said the respondent’s “reckless, offensive, and irresponsible use of his social media platform tarnishes the name, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives.”
In particular, he pointed to “incendiary social media contents” on Barzaga’s Facebook accounts and his failure to remove “publicly viewable inappropriate and indecent photos.”
These actions, Abalos said, brought “contempt, discredit, and disrepute to the name of the House.”
The ethics complaint against Barzaga was filed by several National Unity Party (NUP) members, including party chair and Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno, over the Cavite solon’s alleged violation of House rules on the conduct expected of lawmakers.
At a press briefing on Sept. 15, Puno said that Barzaga’s social media posts, including lewd photos and an alleged ostentatious display of wealth, would be used as evidence in their complaint against him.One of the photos presented by Puno showed a scantily clad woman with her thighs wrapped around Barzaga’s neck.
Puno alleged in their ethics complaint that Barzaga committed the following violations: Not acting in a manner that reflects creditably on the House; engaging in acts contrary to law, good morals, customs and public policy; conduct that incites seditious activity; and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and unbecoming of a member of Congress.
Puno clarified they were not going after Barzaga because he was critical of the government, but because his posts contained several misleading implications that seemed to trivialize issues involving the House.
Barzaga was once a member of NUP, but he left in September after he was accused of soliciting signatures to remove then-House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez from his post.
After leaving NUP, Barzaga began posting various criticisms against House members, Cabinet officials, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and even President Marcos.
At one point, he asked supposed “protesters” not to burn down the Batasang Pambansa complex, where the House of Representatives is located, until after they have evacuated employees and documents.
According to Puno, Barzaga seems unwell, as his actions are not what is normally expected of a government official.
He claimed that Barzaga even stormed the office of Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, telling lawmakers inside to “sit down” before narrating his plans for Congress if he becomes Speaker.
