It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2174643/6-manila-cops-held-for-alleged-hold-up-in-makati-city |
Six police officers assigned to the Manila Police District (MPD) were arrested for allegedly holding up three victims in Makati City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.
The alleged incident took place along Arsonvel Street in Barangay San Isidro on Wednesday night, according to an initial police report.
The victims came from Malate, Manila and went to Arsonvel to pick up some belongings.
“However, when they arrived, a group of armed men suddenly pointed guns and forced [them] to lay down on the ground and tied [their] hands then forcibly took and carted away the victims’ belongings and fled afterward on board their motorcycles,” the police report explained.
Authorities later caught the suspects through a hot pursuit in operation and the victims positively identified them.
The police report identified the suspects as a staff sergeant and five patrolmen assigned to the MPD Police Station 9 Malate.
The six police officers were taken into the custody of the Makati City Police Station, awaiting criminal charges for robbery as well as administrative charges leading to dismissal from the service, NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said in a statement to the Inquirer on Thursday morning.
Aberin also confirmed that he relieved the commander of the Malate police station as well as the entirety of the station’s Drug Enforcement Unit pending investigation into the six officers’ alleged hold-up.In an interview in Camp Crame later on Thursday, Aberin said, “They are assigned to the MPD, but they crossed over to Makati, which is another district. We know that, if you have a police operation in another district or another station, there must be proper coordination and submit an operational clearance beforehand.”
“In this instance, there was none of that. They had no coordination. They had no operational clearance to operate in the Southern Police District’s area of responsibility,” he added.
Six police officers assigned to the Manila Police District were arrested for allegedly holding up three victims in Makati City.
Three officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Pampanga's Second District were relieved from their posts for allegedly demanding commissions from projects.In an interview Friday during the inspection of the Candating flood control project in Arayat, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the officials -- a maintenance section chief and two construction section engineers -- were accused of asking for up to 8 percent in project commissions.Dizon said the officials have been suspended effective immediately pending a full investigation, and will be prosecuted if the allegations are proven."If the investigation shows that they are really asking [for commission], they will not only be removed, they will also be charged," he said.He added that the move aims to send a strong signal to DPWH officials nationwide that the government is serious about cleansing the agency and enforcing a "one-strike" policy against corruption.Dizon inspected the collapsed flood control project as part of the agency's ongoing technical assessment.Based on initial findings by engineers from the DPWH Bureau of Design and expert recommendations, he said the construction of a retention basin to serve as a water reservoir could help prevent strong currents from directly hitting Candating and Cupang.The DPWH will also study the permanent relocation of residents and determine the appropriate distance for a no-build zone in the area.He said the agency will investigate those responsible for the project’s collapse, which posed risks to residents.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/01/mtpb-traffic-enforcer-dismissed-after-extortion-video-goes-viral |
A traffic enforcer from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) was immediately dismissed from service an hour after a video showing him allegedly extorting money from a motorist went viral on social media.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno" Domagoso emphasized that the city government is strictly enforcing its "One Strike Policy" against corrupt personnel.
The mayor stressed that any city employee found to be involved in corruption will be promptly removed from service, adding that there is no room for dishonesty in the Manila local government.
Domagoso also reminded all city employees to remain faithful to their duties and uphold integrity in the performance of their responsibilities.
The city government continues to urge the public to report incidents of corruption and abuse to ensure swift action by concerned authorities.
A traffic enforcer from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureauwas immediately dismissed from service an hour after a video showing him allegedly extorting money from a motorist went viral on social media.
Days after he refused the disposal of garbage from Cebu City, the mayor of Minglanilla town, Cebu province was suspended for one year.A suspension order from the Office of the Ombudsman was served on Monday, Feb. 2, against Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad, Vice Mayor Lani Peña, and members of the municipal council from the previous term.Their suspension stemmed from an administrative case involving the alleged non-issuance of a permit.The serving of the suspension went smooth as all the town officials received the written order in person at the municipal session hall.When asked if the suspension had any connection to his public refusal to allow the use of a landfill in Minglanilla for Cebu City’s garbage, Enad clarified that the administrative case is separate and distinct from the recent discussions on solid waste management.He explained that the case relates to municipal actions taken in response to safety concerns affecting residents of Sitio Napo in Barangay Guindarohan, where ground cracks were observed and assessed to pose potential landslide risks.“Public service is not about convenience or self-preservation,” Enad said. “It is about making difficult decisions guided by what is right. Even when the consequences are personal, my responsibility is to stand by what protects the people I serve and to face these challenges through the proper legal process.”The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed several years ago by private entities associated with the operator of the Minglanilla landfill. Local officials noted that multiple similar cases filed by the same group in the past had already been dismissed, with this case being the only remaining unresolved.Enad declined to discuss the merits of the case in detail, stating that the issues involved are now properly addressed through legal channels.He emphasized, however, that the municipal actions cited in the complaint were undertaken in the exercise of regulatory authority and with the primary objective of protecting public safety and the general welfare.Enad was suspended days after he attended an emergency meeting on Jan. 22 at the Capitol convened by Gov. Pam Baricuatro, where officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), including Secretary Raphael Lotilla, as well as representatives from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), DENR-7, and Cebu City officials discussed Cebu City’s solid waste situation.During the meeting, Minglanilla was identified as one of several areas being considered as a possible temporary option for waste disposal, a proposal the mayor publicly declined.Municipal officials also noted that, during the presentation, reference was made to the existence of a pending administrative case involving the mayor, although it was unrelated to the subject matter of the meeting. Enad did not comment further on this point.Enad reiterated that his refusal to host waste from outside the municipality was not intended to offend any party but was grounded on the municipality’s duty to protect its environment, water sources, and the welfare of its residents.He underscored that he will respect the legal process and exhaust all remedies available under the law to address the suspension, while ensuring that municipal services remain uninterrupted for the people of Minglanilla.While serving the suspension, Enad's wife, Councilor Lheslen will be acting mayor, with Councilor Mulot Laput stepping in as vice mayor."I respect the Office of the Ombudsman and the processes of our institutions," Enad stressed.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/03/danao-city-village-chair-suspended-1-year-for-assaulting-2-peacekeepers |
A barangay captain in Danao City, northern Cebu province was slapped with a one-year suspension for assaulting two barangay tanods or watchmen last year.
In a decision signed Dec. 5, 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman found Taboc Barangay Captain Celestino Durano Sybico III guilty of simple misconduct and oppression.
The incident happened during a meeting of barangay officials last April.
The complaint was filed on May 6, 2025 by then Danao Mayor Thomas Mark Durano. Sybico and Durano are first-degree cousins.
In his complaint, Durano accused Sybico of assaulting barangay tanods Jonaldo Castillo and Editho Mangas Jr. while they were serving a subpoena to resident Irene Casas.
In the complaint, Sybico “suddenly approached Castillo and Mangas in an agitated manner.”
Castillo's uniform was torn and was kicked and punched in the lower hip.
The complaint also stated that the respondent struck Mangas with a mineral water bottle on his right shoulder.
Sybico denied the allegations, describing that the complaint was a mere hearsay and politically motivated. He said the tanods were not wearing uniforms and only approached them to verify their identities and check if they were carrying weapons.
Durano said he filed the complaint to protect the community from abuses of authority.
The Ombudsman dismissed the administrative complaint against Sybico for violating Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials).
The Ombudsman said failure to abide by the norms of conduct under Section 4 of RA No. 6713 is not a ground for administrative disciplinary action. It, however, found substantial evidence for misconduct and oppression, noting that the barangay officials “wrongfully inflicted bodily harm against Castillo and Manga."
A barangay captain in Danao City, northern Cebu province was slapped with a one-year suspension for assaulting two barangay tanods or watchmen last year.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2177218/surigao-del-sur-mayor-safe-after-gun-attack |
Barobo, Surigao del Sur Mayor Ronito Martizano, 60, survived an ambush at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, police said.
Police Maj. Alexis Avenido, acting Barobo police chief, said the incident occurred in Barangay Causwagan as the mayor was leaving Sitio Panaraga in Barangay Gamut.
A car reportedly blocked their path, and gunmen opened fire on Martizano’s van. Avenido added that the suspects immediately fled toward San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
An aide of Martizano told a local radio station in San Francisco that the mayor is safe and is being treated at a local hospital. Avenido has ordered a pursuit operation for the suspects and a thorough investigation into the possible motives of the attack.
The assassination attempt came barely a week after Martizano ordered the dismantling of equipment used in illegal tunnel mining operations allegedly run by Chinese financiers.
Surigao del Sur Mayor Ronito Martizano, 60, survived an ambush.
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