It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/20/isabela-city-govt-utility-worker-shot-dead |
Another female member of the Toledo family who works at the Isabela City government in Basilan was shot dead by unidentified riding-in-tandem gunmen in Isabela City on Wednesday, May 20.
Carliecel Nuena, a utility worker and cousin of the late Karen Toledo Resurreccion who was shot last week, was gunned down while on her way to work in Barangay Sunrise.
Resurreccion was shot on Thursday, May 14, while she and her husband, Nelson, were on their way home on board a motorcycle in Barangay Lanote, Isabela City.
Days earlier, another relative, 60-year-old Gilberto Toledo, was killed in a gun attack while driving his motorcycle in Isabela City.
The attacks against the Toledo family have shaken their community and left the grieving and mourning.
Police said persons of interest have been identified. No arrests have been made as of posting time.
Another female member of the Toledo family who works at the Isabela City government in Basilan was shot dead by unidentified riding-in-tandem gunmen in Isabela City.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/20/village-councilor-gunned-down-by-son-in-law |
A barangay kagawad was allegedly shot dead by his son-in-law inside his residence in Barangay Curuan here on Wednesday, May 20.
Police identified the victim as Warlito Sanson Salvador, 57.
Investigation disclosed that Salvador and a friend were having a drinking session at the victim’s house when his son-in-law, 36-year-old Alvin Bartolome Francisco, arrived and shot him at close range.
Francisco escaped before the arrival of family members and was arrested by police inside his home.
A spent .45 caliber shell was found in the area.
Police are looking at personal grudge as the motive behind the incident.
A barangay kagawad was allegedly shot dead by his son-in-law inside his residence in Barangay Curuan.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2232087/2-cops-relieved-for-alleged-interference-in-missing-sabungeros-case |
Two police officers were relieved from their posts for allegedly interfering in the case of the reported kidnappings of cockfighting aficionados (sabungeros).
The relieved officers—a police lieutenant and a police major—are accused of facilitating meetings between the complainants and the police officers implicated in the sabungeros case, who are detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
The police lieutenant and the police major were relieved from their posts on May 20, according to a special order from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and an incident report from the Headquarters Support Service.
An administrative case was lodged by the sabungeros case’s complainants against the two police officers before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Wednesday.
The complainants identified the police lieutenant as HPG spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang and the police major as PNP Custodial Center chief Maj. Reynaldo Pañebe Jr.
Malang has yet to respond to the Inquirer’s request for a statement, while Pañebe was not immediately reachable for comment.
The complainants also alleged that they were contacted by gambling tycoon Atong Ang’s camp, purportedly encouraging them to speak with the police officers detained at the PNP Custodial Center.
Several of the original complainants in the sabungeros case had withdrawn after supposedly beginning to receive P40,000 every month, according to the complainants.Ang is wanted over kidnapping charges in connection with the reported kidnapping and killing of at least 34 sabungeros who allegedly cheated in his games between 2021 and 2022.
Two police officers were relieved from their posts for allegedly interfering in the case of the reported kidnappings of cockfighting aficionados.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/730095/2-mandaue-traffic-enforcers-suspended-for-violating-traffic-rules |
Two traffic enforcers in Mandaue City have been suspended after being caught violating traffic rules.
Hyll Retuya, head of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), said the agency acted on the recent videos circulating on social media showing personnel committing violations.
Retuya said the agency did not rely on hearsay alone and would only take action when there was concrete evidence proving the violations.
One of the incidents involved an enforcer allegedly crossing through a no-right-turn area using the gutter. Another involved an officer seen holding onto a jeepney while in uniform.
Retuya said both personnel underwent due process and admitted their actions before TEAM’s legal office.
He said the penalties imposed depended on the gravity of the offense.
He confirmed that some personnel were suspended without pay, including the enforcer seen holding onto the jeepney, who received a one-day suspension without pay.
Retuya explained that the enforcer had already finished his duty and was commuting home from his assigned area in Subangdaku when he was seen clinging to a jeepney.
He said the officer reportedly gave up his seat inside the jeepney to accommodate a female passenger, forcing him to hang outside the vehicle.
Despite the explanation, Retuya said the agency still imposed disciplinary action.
“With a heavy heart, he got suspended,” Retuya said.
(I have warned them. We should be the ones implementing the law, so we should not be the first ones to violate the laws that we are implementing.)
(We warned them that once they violate they have to face the consequence depending on the gravity of the offense.)
Retuya said the TEAM maintains regular lectures and orientations for traffic enforcers, especially those directly dealing with traffic violators.
He said another round of training is scheduled in June for field personnel.
Two traffic enforcers in Mandaue City have been suspended after being caught violating traffic rules.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2232220/ex-mayor-now-biliran-board-member-convicted-of-malversation |
Incumbent Biliran 2nd District Board Member Lorenzo Alcala Reveldez Jr. has been convicted by a court in Naval, Biliran, for malversation of public property stemming from official acts during his term as mayor of Culaba town.
In a decision dated May 19, 2026, the Regional Trial Court Branch 37 found Reveldez guilty of violating Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10951.
Court records showed that Reveldez unlawfully appropriated government-owned property in 2020 while serving as mayor of Culaba. The properties involved included a sound system and accessories valued at P922,500.
The court ruled that prosecutors established his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reveldez was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of two years, four months, and one day of prision correccional as minimum, to seven years and four months of prision mayor as maximum.
The court also ordered him to pay a fine amounting to P922,500, equivalent to the value of the missing public property.
The decision was signed by Presiding Judge Constantino Esper.
The Inquirer sought comment from Reveldez through his social media account, but had yet to receive a response as of posting time.
However, in a social media post that appeared to allude to his situation, Reveldez wrote: “I am still alive and kicking!!! No worries!!! God is good all the time.”Reveldez served multiple terms as mayor of Culaba until 2022.
In the 2025 elections, he won a seat in the Biliran Provincial Board representing the province’s second district.
Incumbent Biliran 2nd District Board Member Lorenzo Alcala Reveldez Jr. has been convicted by a court in Naval, Biliran, for malversation of public property stemming from official acts during his term as mayor of Culaba town.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2232313/patrolman-nabbed-for-drawing-gun-at-vendor-parking-attendant-in-manila |
A patrolman was arrested for allegedly drawing his gun at a vendor and a parking attendant in Manila, the police said on Thursday.
In a statement, the MPD said it had arrested the suspect after both victims reported the incident to the police after it had taken place in front of a bar at the corner of Moret and Loyola Streets in Sampaloc last Tuesday.
“The suspect, allegedly without provocation, drew a firearm and pointed it at the first victim, a local vendor,” the city police explained.
“Shortly thereafter, the suspect confronted a second victim, a parking attendant, regarding a missing motorcycle helmet that had allegedly been left in the area the previous night,” it added.
“When alias ‘Ali’ (the parking attendant) stated that he had no knowledge of its whereabouts, the suspect allegedly followed him, drew his firearm and threatened him at gunpoint, causing alias ‘Ali’ to flee the scene,” the MPD further explained.
It noted that the suspect was also arrested last Tuesday but did not say where.
The MPD also said the suspect was assigned to the Southern Police District, but it did not further identify him nor the victims.
However, the police did detail that authorities recovered a 9mm pistol with 13 rounds of ammunition from the suspect.He was brought to the Barbosa Police Station for proper disposition, awaiting cases for two counts of grave threats.
“The Manila Police District reiterates that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct, abuse of authority, or unlawful behavior within its jurisdiction,” the police stressed.
A patrolman was arrested for allegedly drawing his gun at a vendor and a parking attendant in Manila.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2232678/isabela-vice-mayor-faces-raps-at-nbi-over-seditious-remarks-on-socmed |
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Friday filed criminal and administrative complaints before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Vice Mayor Jeryll Harold Respicio, of Reina Mercedes town in Isabela, over his alleged “seditious statements” posted on social media.
CICC Executive Director Usec. Aboy Paraiso, along with Presidential Communications Office Usec. Precious Hipolito-Castelo, led the submission of the agency’s complaint affidavit before the NBI.
In a press conference at the NBI headquarters, Paraiso said the complaints being considered against Respicio include inciting sedition, inciting rebellion, and unlawful means of publication.
The CICC official noted that the complaints have nothing to do with “freedom of speech” but concern creating a threshold when the statements are already “seditious.”
Meanwhile, NBI Director Melvin Matibag mentioned a sample of Paraiso’s post, where the vice mayor stated that revolution is the answer if the Constitution is not in effect.
Matibag said the NBI will issue a subpoena for Respicio to get his side on the complaints amid the conduct of a case buildup and would eventually recommend the case to the Department of Justice.
“All our rights come with corresponding responsibilities,” Matibag said.
Respicio won the vice mayoral race in Reina Mercedes in the 2025 midterm elections.
His proclamation was initially suspended on May 13, 2025 by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) due to a pending disqualification case filed by the commission itself over videos he allegedly posted on Facebook claiming he could manipulate the results of the upcoming elections through a supposed “backroom program” capable of altering vote counts.
Meanwhile, the suspension was lifted in June 2025 after the Comelec clarified that there were no discrepancies or mismatches in election results found.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center filed criminal and administrative complaints before the National Bureau of Investigation against Vice Mayor Jeryll Harold Respicio, of Reina Mercedes town in Isabela, over his alleged “seditious statements” posted on social media.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/21/ex-caloocan-mayor-files-raps-vs-asistio-others-over-alleged-p792-m-ghost-infra-projects |
Former Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo on Thursday, May 21, filed corruption charges before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Caloocan Third District Rep. Dean Asistio, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer, and six private contractors over alleged “ghost” and anomalous infrastructure projects worth P79.2 million.
In a statement, Malonzo said documents and site inspections uncovered an alleged pattern of corruption involving road, drainage, flood control, and building projects across the district that supposedly received full government funding despite allegedly lacking physical or standard compliance on the ground.
He said the respondents were charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019), malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents over alleged fabricated accomplishments, manipulated photos, and gross overpricing.
Malonzo alleged that the questioned projects involved supposed irregularities in road, drainage, flood control, and building projects in several barangays, including allegations of nonexistent structures, manipulated or unrelated project photos, misrepresentation of completed works, location discrepancies, and alleged overpricing.
According to Malonzo, private contractor executives charged alongside Rep. Asistio and Engineer Ruel Umali include Fermerindo Angelo D. Besabe (DSA Prime Builders Corp.), Florita P. Villanueva (Diadema Construction), Dan Rupert O. Cham (Pheames Community Construction), Romanito R. Juatco (Framecon Builders), Mark Allan V. Arevalo (Wawao Builders), and Roland Radcliffe Imperio (5-I Construction Corp.), whom the complaint identified as alleged co-conspirators.
Malonzo said Asistio’s alleged accountability in the questioned projects was evident because of the congressman’s public endorsement and association with the infrastructure works, describing the lawmaker as already “compromised.”
“He has already been explicitly named and repeatedly implicated by vital witnesses in several major, ongoing congressional investigations. This Ombudsman complaint solidifies what legislative inquiries have begun to unearth,” he stated.
Malonzo said that despite being out of City Hall for more than two decades, he still considered it his duty to protect the interests of Caloocan residents, claiming that the city remained plagued by poverty and lack of progress due to what he described as deeply entrenched corruption.
“We are bringing them before the Ombudsman to ensure they finally answer to the law,” Malonzo added.
The Manila Bulletin reached out to Asistio through his verified Facebook page for comment on the allegations, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. As for the other respondents, the Manila Bulletin remains open to publishing their side on the matter.
Former Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo filed corruption charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Caloocan Third District Rep. Dean Asistio, a Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer, and six private contractors over alleged “ghost” and anomalous infrastructure projects worth P79.2 million.
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| https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/23/village-councilor-arrested-over-illegal-drugs-in-oriental-mindoro-1647 |
Authorities arrested a village councilor who is classified as a high-value individual during an anti-illegal drug operation in Sitio Duluhan, Barangay Calsapa in San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro.According to the MIMAROPA Regional Police Office, the 38-year-old barangay official was among the identified high-value drug personalities in the province.The operation was carried out by joint operatives of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 4B, the San Teodoro Municipal Drug Enforcement Team, and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-MIMAROPA.Authorities seized suspected shabu worth ₱23,800 from the suspect.
A barangay official has been arrested for drugs.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/05/24/2530067/manila-councilor-indicted-safe-spaces-act-violation |
The Manila city prosecutor’s office has ordered the filing of three counts of violation of the Safe Spaces Act against Councilor Ryan Ponce for the alleged harassment of his colleague, Eunice Castro.
In a nine-page resolution, the city prosecutor ruled that there is enough evidence to support the filing of charges against Ponce over three incidents between August and September last year.
Castro complained that Ponce sent sexually suggestive text messages and touched her inappropriately in some instances last year.
She cited a text message sent on Aug. 18, 2025 that read: “Good morning, sexy. I was watching out for your hair and dress.”
Another message, allegedly sent on Sept. 18, 2025, read: “Psst sexy, are you off to work? Good. I really miss seeing someone sexy. Good morninggggg sexy.” and “Let me see your good morning face and sleepwear so it would really be a good morning.”
In a privilege speech in October, Castro said Ponce once poked her hand, instead of a proper handshake, and made a gesture to invite her to have sex with him.
“It should be noted that the respondent, a married man, directed said messages containing sexual undertones toward the complainant, a single woman. These messages were of a sexual nature and unwelcome,” the resolution read in part.
The city prosecutor noted that Castro suffered humiliation and distress because of Ponce’s actions.
Castro welcomed the decision, saying she was emotional when she received it.
“Thank you so much to those who believed. This is not just my fight, this is also the fight of all women,” Castro said in Filipino.
Ponce said he respects the prosecutor’s decision and refused to comment further.
He thanked the office for dismissing the acts of lasciviousness charge, which the prosecutor found to lack evidence.
The Manila city council imposed a 60-day suspension on Ponce for the allegations raised by Castro against him on Oct. 16.
The Manila city prosecutor’s office has ordered the filing of three counts of violation of the Safe Spaces Act against Councilor Ryan Ponce for the alleged harassment of his colleague, Eunice Castro.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2234002/cop-village-chair-among-4-killed-in-isabela-shooting |
Police have launched dragnet operations to track down the suspects behind the fatal shooting of four people, including a village chief and a police officer, in Barangay San Rafael Abajo, Santo Tomas, Isabela, on Sunday evening.
Police Col. Manuel Bringas, Isabela police director, identified the fatalities as Barangay Colonguan chair Jimmy Paeste Jr., Police Corporal Frederick Bautista of the Santo Tomas Municipal Police Station, Marlo Joaquin Baui, and an unidentified man.
The attack also led to the wounding of four people: Police Master Sgt. Jayson Acierto of Barangay Aggub in Cabagan town; Margie Bautista, 37, of Barangay San Rafael Abajo; Julian Arcilla of Centro 1; and Juliana Arcilla of Barangay Bagabag, all in Santo Tomas.
Initial police investigation showed the victims were having dinner at Bautista’s house during the village fiesta in San Rafael Abajo when unidentified armed men suddenly arrived and opened fire at their table, hitting several people.
Bautista and Paeste died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. The other victims were rushed to the Milagros Albano District Hospital in Cabagan town for treatment, but two were later declared dead.
Bringas said police immediately set up checkpoints to arrest the suspects.
A flash alarm was also sent to nearby police stations to implement high-risk checkpoints, while forensic personnel processed the crime scene.
Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the attack and the identities of the gunmen.
Four people including a village chief and a police officer were assassinated while eating dinner.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/25/village-dad-shot-dead-in-zamboanga-sibugay |
A barangay councilor was shot dead in Barangay San Jose, Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay on Monday morning, May 25.
Police identified the victim as Edison Magdamit, councilor of Barangay Gandiangan, Imelda.
Magdamit was driving his motorcycle on the highway when another motorcycle with two men appeared. The back rider drew a gun and shot Magdamit.
Magdamit died on the spot. The suspects fled.
Police are conducting manhunt operations and follow-up investigation.
Another barangay councilor has been assassinated.
