It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2057444/10-cidg-cops-sacked-held-for-alleged-p18-million-extortion-in-tondo-raid |
Ten Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel were relieved from their posts and put under police custody for allegedly extorting P18 million from individuals they arrested in a raid at a warehouse in Tondo, Manila last February.
Police investigation alleged that the CIDG Southern Metro Manila District Field Unit officers brought the raided warehouse’s workers to their office in Taguig City, the law enforcement unit said in a statement on Thursday.
“Allegedly afterwards, the accused personnel demanded monetary consideration in exchange for their release,” it added.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo detailed that the officers allegedly demanded P18 million.
Fajardo said, based on the victims’ statements, they were able to give the amount demanded by the CIDG officers.
The CIDG said the personnel were relieved, had their issued firearms and badges turned over, and taken to the PNP custodial facility after the unit received the police investigation report last Monday.
The Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) recommended administrative cases against the accused officers for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and neglect of duty, according to the CIDG.
The cases were recommended in relation to kidnapping and serious illegal detention, planting of evidence, and unlawful arrest, the CIDG added.
According to Fajardo, the police officers involved included four sergeants, three patrolmen, one colonel, one corporal, and one major.
Ten Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel were relieved from their posts and put under police custody for allegedly extorting P18 million from individuals they arrested in a raid at a warehouse in Tondo, Manila last February.
Incumbent Benguet Vice Governor and now congressional candidate Ericson Felipe is facing a disqualification complaint for allegedly using government resources to aid his campaign.
In a petition filed on May 2, private citizen Ralph Robin Tan, accused Felipe for violation of Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), particularly on the use of government vehicle during his campaign.
Tan claimed Felipe used a white vehicle bearing the marking “FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY,” which was reportedly seen regularly parked in front of his Baguio City property.
According to Tan, the label was intentionally concealed by a magnetic sign reading “Good Governance Benguet” -- matching Felipe’s campaign branding -- suggesting deliberate misuse of government resources.
The vehicle is allegedly registered to the Benguet provincial government, based on certification from the Provincial General Services Office.
The petition further alleged that the license plate of the vehicle was switched at times.
Tan urged the Commission on Elections to cancel Felipe’s certificate of candidacy and declare votes cast for him as stray ballots.
Incumbent Benguet Vice Governor and now congressional candidate Ericson Felipe is facing a disqualification complaint for allegedly using government resources to aid his campaign.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) will file cases this week against 131 local government units (LGUs) for failing to streamline and digitize government services, as mandated by the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law.
In a press conference in Malacañang Tuesday, ARTA Director General Secretary Ernesto Perez said the LGUs had ignored legal obligations to implement an electronic Business One-Stop Shop (e-BOSS) and failed to respond to government directives within the legally mandated period.
“Did you know that as early as the Salonga Law, under the Code of Ethical Standards, if we fail to respond to a question, concern, or complaint within 15 working days, officials are already liable,” Perez said.
“That will be our basis—not just the requirement under the law, but the responsibility of agency heads and mayors. We are not afraid to file charges because we have legal grounds,” he added.
Perez said 431 LGUs were earlier issued notices to explain, with 131 now set to face legal action before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“As the President said, there are no exemptions,” he said.
He added that streamlining and digitalizing government services remains a top priority of the Marcos administration, adding that data shows this approach reduces red tape and corruption.
In connection with this push, the President recently declared May as “Ease of Doing Business Month” under Proclamation 818.
Activities under the theme “Red Tape to Red Carpet: Better Business Movement in a Bagong Pilipinas” have since begun nationwide, Perez said.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority will file cases this week against 131 local government units for failing to streamline and digitize government services, as mandated by the Ease of Doing Business Law.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2059040/ex-bacolod-mayor-to-contest-falsification-verdict |
Former Bacolod Mayor Luzviminda Valdez said she would file a motion for reconsideration after the Sandiganbayan found her and a former staff member guilty on seven counts of falsifying private documents related to altered cash slips for reimbursement.
If the motion is denied, Valdez said she planned to elevate the case to the Supreme Court, insisting on her innocence.
“We believe the decision is inconsistent and confusing, and we are confident that a just outcome awaits at the Supreme Court where we intend to pursue our legal remedies,” she said in a May 2 interview.
The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division, in a 114-page decision promulgated April 29, found Valdez and Brendo Eligio, her former secretary, guilty of falsification in seven cases but acquitted them in two others.
Each conviction carries a penalty of two years and four months to six years in prison, plus a P5,000 fine.
The court acquitted Management and Audit Service Office chief Ricardo Dahildahil Jr., former city accountant Eduardo Ravena, and clerk Lalaine Villalva, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
All the accused were also acquitted of malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code due to insufficient evidence.
Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, who penned the decision, said no civil liability was imposed, as the prosecution failed to prove that the Bacolod City government suffered damages.Valdez noted the original charges were for malversation through falsification of public documents — a serious offense punishable by eight to 20 years in prison — but the charge was downgraded.
“The court’s decision clearly states that no civil liability is imposed, as no damage to the Bacolod City government was proven,” she said.
Valdez questioned the court’s reliance on the testimony of state auditor Sheila Portal, who initiated the case. She pointed out that Portal never issued a notice of disallowance — a key due process requirement.
“I stepped down as mayor in July 2004, and she came from another city and began her audit in Bacolod in August 2004,” Valdez said. “This raises questions about the depth and fairness of the investigation.”
Valdez said the court gave her two options: serve the minimum 24-month sentence under probation or file an appeal.
“We reject the first option outright. Accepting probation would be tantamount to admitting guilt for a crime we were already acquitted of in substance. The court acknowledged that the documents in question caused no harm to the government or public interest,” she said.
Former Bacolod Mayor Luzviminda Valdez said she would file a motion for reconsideration after the Sandiganbayan found her and a former staff member guilty on seven counts of falsifying private documents related to altered cash slips for reimbursement.
A disqualification case was filed against Tuguegarao City Mayor reelectionist Maila Ting-Que over alleged abuse of state resources.
This was confirmed by Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday night.
In a petition filed May 5, Monday, Ting-Que was accused of using government vehicles and employees in transporting campaign paraphernalia to and from campaign rally venues; using government resources in campaign activities; and using government-owned portable stage in campaign rallies, among other accusations.
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed for unto this Honorable Commission to DISQUALIFY Respondent Maila Rosario S. Ting-Que as candidate for the position of City Mayor of Tuguegarao and therefore CONSIDER as stray all votes that she will garner in the 2025 National and Local Elections,” the petition stated.
Ting-Que, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, noted that the petition was filed by Ronald Brillantes, who is the former City administrator of Jefferson Soriano, who is her mayoral opponent.
She also said she has yet to receive the copy of the petition against her.
“We will answer whatever allegations are thrown against us and will not be distracted in our goal to win this election,” she said in a statement.
A disqualification case was filed against Tuguegarao City Mayor reelectionist Maila Ting-Que over alleged abuse of state resources.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/05/08/2441418/pnp-chief-sacks-2-cops-moonlighting-paolo-duterte |
Two police officers allegedly moonlighting as security escorts for Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte have been ordered dismissed by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil.
Authorities probed police Executive M/Sgt. Rexter Millano and S/Sgt. Leonard Pamat for acting as Duterte’s bodyguards without proper authority.
Millano and Pamat should be kicked out of the PNP for dishonesty, Marbil said yesterday.
“That’s perpetual disqualification from any government post. This is our warning to the police force: make sure to take your job religiously,” he told reporters at Camp Crame.
Davao City police chief Col. Hansel Marantan said Millano and Pamat were assigned with the Marilog and Paquibato stations.
Their immediate commanders should also be sanctioned, Marbil stressed.
Eleven officers and personnel of the Special Action Force (SAF) were dismissed in November last year for providing illegal security escort services to a Chinese national in Muntinlupa, he recalled.
Duterte is embroiled in controversy after an altercation with a businessman at a Davao bar last Feb. 24, an incident caught on closed-circuit television.
Apart from Millano and Pamat, two Philippine Air Force personnel were also part of Duterte’s security detail, based on the footage.
Moonlighting is a serious offense in the PNP, Marbil maintained.
Two police officers allegedly moonlighting as security escorts for Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte have been ordered dismissed by Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil.
Charges were filed against members of the municipal council in Dalaguete town, southern Cebu province.Charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas on Wednesday, May 7, were Vice Mayor William Lagahid and Councilors Ernesto Tangpos, Kevin Belandres, Felix Villacorta, Royce Nikko Cesante, and Hilario Belciña; Association of Barangay Council President Elmer Licaros, and Sangguniang Kabataan President Danilo Sombilon Jr.
They were charged for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, gross negligence, serious misconduct, and serious dishonesty.
Jose Rene Moran and Braulio Moran, heirs of a lot owned by Maria Zambrano, filed the complaints.
Joey Borinaga, counsel of the complainants, said his clients decided to file the charges after the municipal government built a warehouse on the nearly 4,000-square meter lot owned by Zambrano.
The complainants accused the municipal government of failing to coordinate or inform them about the implementation of the project.
Borinaga said the town constructed a warehouse on the lot even if the complainants had already written a letter to the mayor that they would not sell the property.
The complainants said they were shocked when the warehouse was built in July 2024 for P8.1 million.
The complainants filed a separate complaint before the Ombudsman against Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante.
Borinaga said that on March 10, 2025, the Sangguniang Bayan included in their order of business the release of funds for the purchase of the lot.
The complainants said they immediately wrote a letter to the Sangguniang Bayan stating that they have no intention to sell their lot.
On April 28, 2025, the council approved the release of the fund but an ordinance did not mention the amount that would be released for the purchase of the lot.
“They still approved it if they had received a letter from the heirs of Maria Zambrano that they would not sell the property,” Borinaga said.
Borinaga asserted that it was irregular for the council to order the release of funds without first identifying its amount.
Respondents have yet to comment on the issue.
Cesante has described these complaints as political noise.
"However, all those are still evaluated at the Ombudsman. We submitted replies and I understand all agencies were able to comply," Cesante said.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1249619 |
A complaint has been filed against a local candidate in Batangas province over alleged abuse of state resources (ASR) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In his complaint, Raneo Abu alleged that Batangas Rep. Jinky Bitrics Luistro, who is seeking re-election, was present during the distributions of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) in several campaign activities in the province.
"On two separate occasions during the official campaign period and in the course of scheduled campaign activities, Jinky Bitrics Luistro, a candidate for public office, made public appearances during the distribution of the government financial assistance, AICS," Abu said.
Abu said Luistro's campaign events "were designed to coincide with these pay-outs, where she not only delivered speeches to convince people to vote for her, but also attributed the said distribution to herself."
Abu said such acts fall under ASR as Luistro "unduly influences public perception by making it appear that beneficiaries of the government program owe their receipt of aid to her."
"Luistro directly used her position and official power to induce, influence, and manipulate the voters and ultimately undermines the electoral system, which is detrimental to democratic governance," the complainant said.
In a video posted on her Facebook page, Luistro dismissed the accusations against her as "part of the massive demolition job ng ating mga kalaban (of our opponents)."
A complaint has been filed against Rep. Jinky Bitric in Batangas province over alleged abuse of state resources before the Commission on Elections.
Mayor Janice Degamo of Pamplona, Negros Oriental is facing a disqualification complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding her residency in Siaton town as she seeks the 3rd congressional district seat in the My 12 polls.
Her legal counsel, Andrei Bon Tagum, told the media in an online interview on Wednesday that the disqualification case was lodged before the Comelec at the end of April and is meant to discredit the mayor.
“It is just political propaganda to frustrate the people in the 3rd district,” given the timing of the complaint filing, Tagum said.
The mayor, who is the widow of the late Governor Roel Degamo, has completed the residency requirement of one year for her to qualify as a congressional candidate in the 3rd district, he added.
He noted that the Degamo couple has a house in Barangay Bonawon, Siaton, where the late governor was buried, while also running their fishing business from the said town.
On May 8, 2024, the mayor transferred her registration as a voter in Siaton town.
Tagum said they have not yet received an official copy of the complaint from the Comelec but were informed through email about it.
He said they also do not know the identity of the complainant.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here said it has not received a copy of the complaint.
Comelec-Negros Island Region director Lionel Marco Castillano said disqualification cases are directly filed with their central office.
In the event a candidate wins in the elections but has a pending disqualification case, the usual procedure is for the Comelec to order a suspension of proclamation until the case has been resolved with finality, he added.
Mayor Janice Degamo of Pamplona, Negros Oriental is facing a disqualification complaint before the Commission on Elections regarding her residency in Siaton town as she seeks the 3rd congressional district seat in the May 12 polls.
