It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday afternoon filed plunder and graft cases against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada before the Sandiganbayan.
After this move, an arrest warrant is expected to be issued against Estrada anytime soon.
Plunder is a non-bailable case and carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Once jailed, Estrada could only be temporarily released if the evidence of his guilt is not strong.
The anti-graft body formally charged Estrada weeks after receiving the recommendation from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The DOJ recommended the filing of plunder, graft and bribery cases against Estrada and other former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in connection with government flood control project anomalies.
During the second House infrastructure committee hearing in September last year, former DPWH assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez alleged that Estrada maneuvered to allocate P355 million through budget insertions in Bulacan’s first district in alleged exchange for a 30-percent cut.
Estrada denied this as he shrugged off the Ombudsman’s announcement regarding his plunder complaint.
“Well, if this is the price that I have to pay for standing on my own principles and what I believe in? So be it,” Estrada told reporters on Tuesday.
Estrada also stressed that the Senate’s Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office said he does not have any insertions.
The majority bloc senator is still facing 11 counts of graft in the Sandiganbayan despite being acquitted of plunder last year.
Estrada and convicted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles were acquitted of plunder over an alleged misuse of P200 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
However, the antigraft court has rejected, for lack of merit, his plea to dismiss the graft case stemming from the same case.
He was also convicted of one count each of direct and indirect bribery for allegedly pocketing P6.7 million in payoffs in connection with the misappropriation of his PDAF, but the Sandiganbayan reversed the decision in August.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder and graft cases against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada before the Sandiganbayan.
A barangay kagawad or councilor was shot dead in Barangay Poblacion East, Calasiao, Pangasinan on Wednesday, May 27.
Investigation said the 31-year-old victim was on duty in the barangay hall when a man arrived and opened fire.
But the suspect’s gun malfunctioned, giving the victim a chance to run towards the kitchen and escape through the front door.
However, the suspect chased the victim and fired multiple shots, hitting the victim in the body and head before fleeing on a white motorcycle driven by an accomplice towards Magsaysay Bridge.
The victim was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
Recovered from the crime scene were four fired cartridge cases and one caliber .45 bullet.
Calasiao police led by Police Lt. Col. Rodel C. Gabatin held a case conference to fast-track the identification and arrest of the suspects.
Police Col. Dennis L. de Leon, Pangasinan police chief, ordered intensified manhunt operations, surveillance camera backtracking, and intelligence gathering to ensure justice for the victim.
Lawmen appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report information that may help solve the case.
A barangay kagawad or councilor was shot dead in Barangay Poblacion East, Calasiao, Pangasinan.
The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) has filed a complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Sen. Robin Padilla and five others for obstruction of justice.
CIDG public information chief Maj. Helen dela Cruz confirmed this in a text message to the Inquirer on Thursday evening.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame earlier on Thursday, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said Padilla had “indispensable cooperation” in helping Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leave the Senate early in the morning on May 14.
Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court over his alleged participation in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on illegal drugs.
Padilla had previously admitted that dela Rosa left the Senate with him aboard his vehicle.
However, Padilla maintained that dela Rosa only “hitched” a ride, and that he had dropped him off in Makati City without asking where he was going next.
According to Morico, other vehicles had been waiting “in the vicinity of the Senate” to ensure Padilla’s car was able to leave, but the CIDG chief did not provide further details about them, citing “operational matters.”
The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed a complaint before the Department of Justice against Sen. Robin Padilla and five others for obstruction of justice.
A former barangay captain of Upper Sang-an, Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur, was shot dead in broad daylight along the national highway in Barangay Tawagan Sur here on Thursday afternoon. Initial police investigation showed that the victim was riding his yellow motorcycle and was reportedly on his way to Pagadian City to fetch his wife, who works at a private hospital, when unidentified suspects allegedly tailed him while onboard a white sport utility vehicle (SUV).Upon reaching Purok Sampaguita in Barangay Tawagan Sur at 3:56 p.m., witnesses said several gunshots suddenly rang out, hitting the victim.
The suspects immediately fled toward an unknown direction after the attack. Authorities recovered three fired cartridge cases from a 9mm pistol at the crime scene. Police launched hot pursuit operations and conducted follow-up investigations to determine the motive behind the killing and identify those responsible. Later that same day, authorities arrested one suspect and recovered the alleged getaway vehicle used in the shooting during a joint law enforcement operation. Police said the vehicle was found in Purok Buntod, Barangay Polyagan, Pagadian City. Investigators are continuing efforts to identify and arrest the remaining suspects involved in the attack. Police have yet to release additional details regarding the motive or identities of those behind the killing. Authorities also appealed for public cooperation, urging residents with information related to the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation.
A former barangay captain of Upper Sang-an, Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur, was shot dead in broad daylight.
The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday said it suspended Catanduanes Vice Governor Robert Fernandez and 11 Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members for allegedly causing delays in the utilization and allocation of P30.5 million aid for Super Typhoon Uwan in November last year.
Fernandez on Friday noted that the SP is ready to address all allegations in proper channels, while stressing that preventive suspension is only procedural and not a “final ruling of guilt.”
In an order dated May 22, the Ombudsman said “that there is strong evidence showing their guilt” for the charges of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service filed against Fernandez and the 11 SP members.
Aside from Fernandez, also suspended were SP members Josevan Balidoy, Giovanni Balmadrid, Jose Romeo Francisco, Alvin Rodriguez, Edwin Tanael, Lorenzo Templonuevo Jr., Arnel Turado, Dean Roberto Vergara, Tito Villamor, Santos Zafe and Rafael Zuniega.
The said respondents will be preventively suspended without pay for six months, pending the final termination of the administrative adjudication of their case.
The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by Catanduanes Governor Patrick Alain Azanza over alleged irregularities in the proper utilization and allocation of the P30.5M of the province’s Quick Response Fund (QRF).
The respondents, then acting as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or SP, revised the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s proposed utilization and allocation of the QRF and moved to use over P26 million for cash assistance instead of goods.
Governor Azanza vetoed the SP ordinance, citing the DBM-DILG-NDRRMC Joint Circular 2013-1 which does not allow cash assistance for immediate response activities. DBM stands for the Department of Budget and Management, DILG is Department of the Interior and Local Government and NDRRMC the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“Azanza further stressed that the respondents’ acts delayed the utilization of the QRF and further impeded the provincial government from addressing the urgent needs of the affected more than 39,000 families,” the Ombudsman said in a statement.
Fernandez defended their move, saying “the Sangguniang Panlalawigan stood firm on prioritizing immediate, direct cash assistance so our affected kababayans could directly buy what they urgently needed to rebuild their lives.”
“We firmly believe that fighting for the welfare and immediate relief of our calamity-stricken citizens is not misconduct—it is our highest duty as elected officials,” Fernandez said in a statement.
Also cited in Azanza’s complaint are other acts such as the deferment of the request for authority to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development for provisions of construction materials for Uwan victims, according to the Ombudsman.
Also, the respondents allegedly caused delays in the enactment of budget appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and also issued a resolution in January declaring Azanza as persona non grata in the province.
Fernandez said: “The policy disagreements cited in the complaint — including budget deliberations and local appointments — reflect the necessary checks-and-balances of a functioning, independent legislative branch.”
Meanwhile, Fernandez stressed that a preventive suspension “is NOT a penalty, nor is it a final ruling of guilt.”
“It is simply a procedural measure used during an ongoing administrative investigation,” he said. “Should this be properly served to the respondents, then, we will comply.”
The vice governor said his office has not been formally served this order by the proper implementing authorities.
“Instead, a photocopy of the document was merely handed over by the staff of the Office of the Governor to our staff at the Office of the Vice Governor,” Fernandez said.
“Until the proper, legal, and official service is executed by the rightful regulatory channels, the leadership of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan remains fully active, functional, and intact,” he also said.
The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday said it suspended Catanduanes Vice Governor Robert Fernandez and 11 Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members for allegedly causing delays in the utilization and allocation of P30.5 million aid for Super Typhoon Uwan in November last year.
A group of healthcare workers has accused Mayor Lina Montilla of Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat of abusing her authority for allegedly not releasing at least P18 million in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits owed to local healthcare workers.
The administrative complaint was filed last May 20 before the Provincial Board of Sultan Kudarat by health personnel led by City Health Officer Dr. Giovanni D. Deles. It was made public over the weekend.
Deles and company also sought the mayor’s preventive suspension while the investigation is underway.
According to them, the preventive suspension is necessary “to preserve the integrity of relevant documents and prevent any possible influence on witnesses.”
The complaint stated that healthcare workers formally requested the release of their PhilHealth Konsulta Package Honorarium and Professional Fees on Dec. 22, 2025, covering services rendered from Jan. 23 to July 30, 2025.
It added the request remained unresolved for nearly two months, prompting them to send a demand letter through their legal counsel on Feb. 12, 2026.
Instead of approving it, the documents were allegedly returned to the City Health Office without any accompanying explanation.
The complaint also cited PhilHealth Advisory No. 2025-0021, which provides that professional fees for healthcare providers should be distributed within 30 days from the facility’s receipt of the funds.
The complainants said that City Treasurer Romulo Paclibar Jr. had confirmed that the local government had already received the full amount of P18,859,120 from PhilHealth.
They argued that there were no longer any legal obstacles to the release of the funds, as the distribution had reportedly been approved by the city council through necessary resolutions.
The complainants further maintained that the benefits had become vested rights of the healthcare workers, as they already rendered their services and complied with all requirements necessary for the release of the payments.
As of this writing, Montilla’s camp has yet to issue an official statement regarding the complaint.
Records show that the complaint was received on May 20, 2026, by the Office of Sultan Kudarat Vice Governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Presiding Officer, Prince Raden Sakaluran, for appropriate action.
A group of healthcare workers has accused Mayor Lina Montilla of Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat of abusing her authority for allegedly not releasing at least P18 million in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits owed to local healthcare workers.
Former Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) chief Mohagher Iqbal will face criminal and administrative charges before the Office of Ombudsman amid massive fraud allegations, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua said.
In his letter to Iqbal, Macacua assured him of due process as he would be given a chance to clear his name.
The alleged funds misuse was exposed after the Commission on Audit report on the questionable purchase of P2.2 billion learning and training materials.
Macacua dismissed Iqbal as the MBHTE chief on May 18 due to loss of trust and confidence amid the corruption issue.
Iqbal initially refused to step down, saying he was not given due process. Macacua dismissed Iqbal's claim, saying the COA special audit was part of due process.
"To provide you further the opportunity to invoke due process and ensure full accountability, I shall immediately forward the final COA findings to the Office of the Ombudsman so that the appropriate criminal and administrative proceedings may commence without delay," Macacua said.
"In that forum, you will have every opportunity to be heard. But those proceedings do not bar the Chief Minister from ending a co-terminus appointment due to loss of confidence."
Macacua said the COA findings against MBHTE were serious and they not only tainted Iqbal's personal credibility but also significantly damaged BARMM's reputation as an institution.
Iqbal’s dismissal from MBHTE earned the ire of many Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) supporters who staged a massive protest in front of the Bangsamoro government center in Cotabato City.
Macacua justified his decision to axe his long-time MILF colleague, citing legal and factual framework in response to Iqbal's refusal to step down.
Macacua clarified that Iqbal's appointment does not enjoy security of tenure, as his ministerial position is not fixed but co-terminus with the appointing authority.
He said Iqbal should not confuse brotherhood with governance and accountability, especially where corruption is alleged.
"The struggle for the Bangsamoro was never about protecting each other from accountability; it was about building a just government. Justice requires that no one, regardless of shared history, remain in office when corruption erodes public trust in the institutions we painstakingly built. Thus, trust and confidence are gone," Macacua said.
Macacua and Iqbal are senior leaders of the MILF.
Iqbal is the MILF first vice chairperson and has been the chairman of the peace panel for over 20 years. Macacua is the chief of staff of the MILF armed wing Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.
"Moral governance demands that we act decisively when public trust is compromised. I have lost full confidence in your ability to lead MBHTE, and that loss of confidence is sufficient grounds for the expiration of your term," Macacua said.
Former Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education chief Mohagher Iqbal will face criminal and administrative charges before the Office of Ombudsman amid massive fraud allegations, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua said.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has arrived at the New Quezon City Male Dormitory Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, where he will be detained after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest for his nonbailable plunder case.
From the Sandiganbayan for the return of warrant, Estrada’s convoy reached the Quezon City Jail at 8:07 p.m. on Monday.
Arrived at the jail’s premises were two police motorcycle escorts, one police coaster, two Sandiganbayan vans, a black SUV, and Estrada’s white Lexus SUV.
This came after the senator underwent booking procedures at the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) following the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division’s arrest warrant.
Estrada earlier said that he voluntarily surrendered to the PNP-CIDG, but Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla later pointed out that they arrested the senator inside the Senate.
The senator was charged with plunder, as well as a graft case, for allegedly receiving P573 million in kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects that were reportedly “systematically delivered” to him.
The Sandiganbayan Second Division on Friday issued an arrest warrant against the senator for his graft case.
But since graft is bailable, Estrada immediately filed the P90,000 requested bail on the same day.
Aside from Estrada, also ordered arrested are former Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan and ex-DPWH engineering officials from the National Capital Region namely, assistant district engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna and district engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales, Jr.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has been arrested for nonbailable plunder.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan surrendered to authorities on Monday afternoon following an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.
According to GMA News’ Mariz Umali, Bonoan appeared at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Last week, Bonoan posted bail before the Sandiganbayan Second Division on Friday to secure temporary freedom amid a pending graft charge filed against him.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan has been arrested for plunder.
On Tuesday, lawmakers voted to expel Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga over “disruptive” and “disorderly” behavior, making him the first in nearly three years to be expelled from the House of Representatives.
Of the lawmakers, 265 or more than two-thirds voted in favor of the House ethics committee’s findings in Committee Report No. 298 that Barzaga should be expelled from the lower chamber over acts deemed unbecoming of a House member.
Fourteen voted against it, while eight abstained.
“Representative Barzaga engaged in a pattern of highly disruptive, discourteous, and disorderly behavior that directly obstructed plenary sessions and desecrated parliamentary solemnity,” 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos, who heads the ethics committee, told the House floor in his sponsorship speech of the panel’s report.
He also said Barzaga’s “established infractions” include repeatedly interrupting plenary sessions, having loud outbursts, distracting House members during legislative work, and mocking the chamber’s leadership.
Barzaga, a 27-year-old lawmaker, was suspended twice for 60 days over incendiary social media posts that leveled accusations and inflammatory remarks against fellow lawmakers and top government officials.
He has styled himself as an advocate of animal rights and has adopted a cat persona, whose quips are often punctuated by a “meow.”
Barzaga’s expulsion is the chamber’s latest, following the August 2023 removal of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who faces murder charges, including in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Other lawmakers expelled include former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos Sr., who was removed after being found guilty of raping a minor, and Ruben Ecleo Jr. of Dinagat Islands, who was dropped over graft charges and the killing of his wife.
The lead-up to the vote saw a back-and-forth between lawmakers pushing for Barzaga’s removal and those opposing it, who argued that his expulsion did not match his infractions and could set a precedent for future proceedings.
“My concern is whether expulsion would be perceived as punishment for dissent rather than genuine disorderly behavior,” Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said.
He later questioned whether there was a quorum to vote on Barzaga’s removal, prompting a roll call before the voting proceeded.
Before his ouster, Barzaga voted against impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte, who was overwhelmingly indicted on corruption and constitutional violation charges tied to alleged misuse of confidential funds and accusations she plotted the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., among others.
Barzaga had filed six bills in his 11 months as a lawmaker, including a proposal to make divorce legal in the Philippines, and co-authored five others, according to his congressional profile.
Rep. Kiko Barzaga has been expelled over “disruptive” and “disorderly” behavior,
A barangay councilor was shot dead in his home in Barangay Bungro here on Monday night, June 1.
Police Capt. Melvin Trinidad, police chief here, said the
50-year-old victim was resting in the veranda at 10:15 p.m. when unidentified men arrived and shot him in the face.
The suspects fled and the victim was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.
Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives recovered two spent .45-caliber and 5.56-millimeter shells in the crime scene.
Police are investigating personal, love life, and political angles as possible motives in the attack.
A barangay councilor was shot dead in his home.
The Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) announced on Wednesday, June 3, that one of its police officers involved in the viral arrest of a 76-year-old barangay driver following a traffic incident in Taguig City has been placed under restrictive custody.
In a statement, the Rizal PPO emphasized that it strongly condemns any form of irresponsible, violent, or inappropriate behavior that may endanger the life, safety, and rights of any individual, especially when committed by a member of the police force.
The station immediately addressed the incident, which occurred on June 2 at the corner of MLQ Avenue and Mauling Creek in Barangay Bagumbayan.
The viral video was uploaded by digital creator Tenants Ray Rice, showing the officer handcuffing the elderly man—wearing a shirt marked “service driver”—and forcibly pulling him into a vehicle. The uploader identified him as a driver from Barangay Lower Bicutan.
According to the post description, the driver accidentally hit the police officer’s car. Authorities said CCTV footage confirmed a minor collision between the two vehicles, which was later settled amicably through a compromise agreement.
However, police noted the driver attempted to leave the scene, prompting the officer’s intervention.
As an immediate measure, the Rizal PPO said the involved police officer was immediately removed from his unit and placed under restrictive custody while the necessary verification, assessment, and thorough investigation of the incident are being conducted.
It said that the move aims to ensure that the involved police officer will be held accountable in accordance with existing regulations and applicable laws.
“The Rizal PPO reiterated that no one is above the law, and that any allegation of misconduct or violation of existing rules and regulations will be given due attention and addressed through appropriate action,” it emphasized.
The Rizal PPO also reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, integrity, discipline, and accountability within the police force, in line with its mandate to serve and protect the public.
Police officers were reminded to exercise discipline, self-restraint, and the highest standards of professionalism at all times.
“The Rizal PPO will not condone any conduct that could erode public trust in the organization,” it stressed.
The Rizal Police Provincial Office announced that one of its police officers involved in the viral arrest of a 76-year-old barangay driver following a traffic incident in Taguig City has been placed under restrictive custody.
Human rights advocates and various cause-oriented groups filed on Wednesday, June 3, a case of obstruction of justice against Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Robin Padilla in connection with the May 14 escape of fellow senator Ronald ‘Bato” Dela Rosa before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Aside from the two senators, also included in the charge sheet was retired police general and Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Mao Aplasca whom the groups accused of having a hand in the escape plan.
Tindig Pilipinas convenor Francis Joseph Aquino Dee said they filed the complaint to emphasize that no one is above the law when it comes to accountability for violating the law and betraying public trust.
"The rule of law requires accountability. Public office must never be used as a shield against justice,” said Dee before the filing of the case.
“When officials use their positions to frustrate lawful processes and protect their allies from accountability, they betray the public trust and undermine our democratic institutions," he added.
He said the complaint is part of a broader effort to challenge impunity and stand with the victims of the drug war and their families.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP), through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), recommended to the Department of Justice against Padilla, her female deputy chief of staff who is a retired military personnel, and four others, including two relatives of Padilla.
The recommendation of the case stemmed from what it described as sufficient proof that Dela Rosa’s escape was highly-coordinated and well-planned, with Padilla being tagged as the person who made it happen.
In a press briefing, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said the Senate gunfire on May 13 and the escape of Dela Rosa are related. But he emphasized that it is up to the DOJ to file the case.
The DOJ earlier tapped the CIDG to assist it in the investigation and case build-up of both Dela Rosa escape and the Senate gunfire which President Marcos described as fake.
For its part, Tindig Pilipinas said the case it filed will not affect the investigation and case build-up currently being done by the DOJ, adding that the filing was to emphasize the right of every citizen to file a case against any government official committing abuses.
“This case is not simply about one individual but about defending the integrity of public institutions and ensuring that accountability mechanisms function without political interference,” the groups said in a statement.
“We call on the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct an impartial investigation and ensure that public officials who obstruct justice are held accountable under the law,” they added.
Dee said they furnished a copy of the complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying the tribunal is a party to the incident that involved the escape of Dela Rosa.
“We’re doing it for their information… it’s a courtesy because they are a party to this case,” said Dee.
Dela Rosa is a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC as he was named as a co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity case in relation to the bloody drug war that left thousands of people, including children and innocent civilians, dead.
The ICC warrant was unsealed after Dela Rosa suddenly appeared in the Senate on May 11 to participate in the ouster of then Senate president Tito Sotto.
Human rights advocates and various cause-oriented groups filed on Wednesday, June 3, a case of obstruction of justice against Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Robin Padilla in connection with the May 14 escape of fellow senator Ronald ‘Bato” Dela Rosa before the Office of the Ombudsman.
