It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2307143/duero-mayor-steps-down-after-ombudsman-dismissal-order |
Duero Mayor Al Cadorniga Taculad stepped down from office on Sept. 16 after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal for grave misconduct arising from his financial interest in municipal projects awarded to his construction firm.
Vice Mayor Hernes Bajao assumed the mayoralty following Taculad’s departure.
In a Sept. 1 decision, the Ombudsman found Taculad administratively liable for violations of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, with related provisions of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code.
The case involved two municipal projects—the river control project and the rainwater collector system—which were awarded to Altacs Construction, a company owned by Taculad while he was mayor.
The Ombudsman said Altacs Construction received a total of P76.2 million in payments for the two projects.
It also found that Taculad failed to divest his interest in the company after assuming office, which the Ombudsman cited as a conflict of interest and basis for the finding of grave misconduct.
The dismissal carries the forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and a ban on taking civil service examinations.
The Ombudsman also found sufficient basis for a criminal complaint against Taculad over alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and the Local Government Code.Taculad denied responsibility for some of the documents cited in the case, claiming that his signatures on several bidding documents were forged. The Ombudsman said the issue of the alleged forged signatures would be more appropriately resolved during trial.
Taculad said he voluntarily stepped down to comply with the Ombudsman’s order.
In a farewell message to municipal employees posted on Facebook, Taculad said the administrative complaint had been filed by his political opponents nearly two years ago.
He said he faced the complaint but acknowledged that the outcome was unfavorable.
“I will tell you that these decisions are really difficult to accept, knowing that we did nothing wrong. We did not steal any money,” Taculad said in Cebuano.
He also said he believed the case was intended to derail his public service and political career.
“This is intended to destroy us. They want us to stop serving the people and to leave politics,” he said.
Duero is a fourth-class municipality about 73 kilometers from Tagbilaran City, with a population of around 19,000.
Duero Mayor Al Cadorniga Taculad stepped down from office on Sept. 16 after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal for grave misconduct arising from his financial interest in municipal projects awarded to his construction firm.
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| https://globalnation.inquirer.net/338589/nbi-nabs-immigration-officer-allegedly-involved-in-human-trafficking |
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested an officer of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Pasay City for allegedly being involved in a human trafficking scheme.
In an interview on Thursday, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the BI officer is supposedly connected to illegal recruiters who offer jobs abroad to applicants with insufficient documents.
"The immigration officer, he is the one called the gunner. So that will go through him. But there will also be someone who will brief. Those who are supposed to be brought in for human trafficking will be briefed. Then those who book flights. Then there will be a recruiter," Matibag told reporters.
He said the recruitment was being done on social media or in person.
Matibag also said the BI officer earns around P500,000 daily from the supposed modus operandi.
The investigation into the supposed scheme started after a woman filed a complaint with the bureau’s Dangerous Drugs Division, noting that she was being recruited through Telegram as a customer service representative in Thailand.
The complainant said she was promised to pay P50,000 monthly for the position, and when she attempted to withdraw from the offer, she was allegedly threatened by a recruiter and compelled her to pay P20,000 in processing fees.After verifying the information, NBI agents coordinated with the complainant and arrived at the Naia Terminal 1, where she was instructed to proceed for her supposed flight to Thailand.
After one of the supposed recruiters gave her all the documents needed for her flight, another accomplice allegedly provided her a “map” that directed her specifically to the counter where the immigration officer was assigned.
The NBI said the immigration officer only asked the complainant for the date she would return to the Philippines. She was immediately allowed to proceed even though she only presented her passport and boarding pass, and despite having no return ticket at the time.
After establishing sufficient grounds that the immigration officer was part of the alleged trafficking operation, NBI agents arrested him along with the illegal recruiters.
The immigration officer is currently in NBI custody and would face charges for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The NBI likewise recommended filing charges against the four other illegal recruiters for supposedly violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Matibag said the bureau will coordinate with the BI to determine whether the arrested immigration officer also has accomplices in the supposed scheme.
A Bureau of Immigration officer has been arrested for human trafficking.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2307516/ombudsman-files-graft-charges-vs-villars-local-water-districts |
Two counts of criminal and administrative cases against Sens. Mark and Camille Villar, parents and former Sens. Manny and Cynthia Villar, and businessman Paolo Villar, and officials for alleged questionable joint venture agreements entered into by Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC).
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said that the Ombudsman received a report from the Office of the Government Corporate Council that 75 local water districts entered into a joint venture agreement with Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC) from 2015 to 2022.
He described this as “grossly disadvantageous”.
Of the figures, 19 from the local water districts issued notices of pre-termination due to the PWIC’s inability to provide its obligations, he added.
“It has reportedly failed to supply uninterrupted water resources and has instead provided poor drinking water standards, among other complaints against it,” Clavano said during a press briefing.
The Commission on Audit likewise flagged the PWIC’s P65,650,708.07 total unpaid obligations, such as the local water districts’ utilization or consumption of materials and supplies inventory.
The cases were now under preliminary investigation, he said.
Two counts of criminal and administrative cases against Sens. Mark and Camille Villar, parents and former Sens. Manny and Cynthia Villar, and businessman Paolo Villar, and officials for alleged questionable joint venture agreements entered into by Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2307917/cop-surrenders-after-fatal-shooting-of-village-exec-in-northern-samar |
A police officer surrendered to authorities after allegedly shooting to death a barangay councilor in Palapag, Northern Samar, on Friday afternoon, Sept. 18.
The victim, a 50-year-old resident of Barangay Mapno, was found behind a waiting shed across the barangay auditorium after the shooting at 2:53 p.m.
Police identified the suspect as a 40-year-old patrolman residing in Palapag.
According to the Palapag Municipal Police Station, the victim was sitting at the waiting shed when the suspect approached and shot him several times before fleeing the area.
Five empty 9mm cartridge cases and one slug were recovered from the scene.
Initial police investigation indicated that the shooting stemmed from a personal grudge involving the two men, who reportedly had a history of animosity and an ongoing family dispute.
Barangay Captain Lope Macayayong reported the incident to the Palapag police at 3:15 p.m. Police personnel immediately responded to the area.
A hot-pursuit operation was launched by Palapag police personnel.The suspect, however, later voluntarily surrendered to the Palapag police and turned over his PNP-issued Taurus 9mm pistol, three magazines and 23 rounds of ammunition.
The victim’s remains were initially brought to the Palapag Rural Health Unit for post-mortem examination due to the absence of the municipal health officer. The body was later transferred to G.B. Tan Memorial Hospital in Laoang.
According to the police, the suspect was also brought to the same hospital for a medical examination.
Police said further investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
A police officer surrendered to authorities after allegedly shooting to death a barangay councilor in Palapag, Northern Samar.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/19/qc-cop-relieved-over-motorcycle-plate-violation |
A Quezon City Police District (QCPD) officer was relieved after allegedly riding a private motorcycle without a license plate in Barangay Socorro, Cubao.
The officer, in full police uniform, was riding at the intersection of P. Tuazon Boulevard and EDSA on Friday, Sept. 18, when the alleged traffic violation was reported on social media.
The QCPD verified the report and identified the officer involved.
He was ordered to submit a written explanation regarding the reported traffic violation and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The officer was turned over to QCPD Traffic Sector 3 for appropriate action.
Following assessment, he was issued traffic citation tickets, while his motorcycle was impounded pending the required verification, documentation, and procedures for its proper disposition and release.
The QCPD stressed that all police personnel are required to comply with traffic laws, rules, and regulations at all times, emphasizing that being a police officer does not exempt anyone from following the law.
The police district said it remains committed to accountability, discipline, and adherence to the law and will continue to take appropriate action on reported violations involving its personnel, consistent with due process and existing rules and regulations.
A Quezon City Police District officer was relieved after allegedly riding a private motorcycle without a license plate.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/20/ombudsman-suspends-tayabas-city-vice-mayor-for-6-months |
The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Vice Mayor Rosauro Dalida here following an administrative complaint filed against him by a retired ambassador.
The suspension was implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Region 4-A (Southern Tagalog) led by Regional Director Ariel Iglesia.
Dalida was suspended for six months and one day without pay for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
His case stemmed from a complaint filed by retired Ambassador Fortunato Oblena who received a report that his coconut trees and other vegetation were damaged due to a road construction project initiated by Dalida in February 2024.
Oblena said he visited his property and confirmed that a 200-meter-long road was being constructed and noted that he had not been informed about the project prior to its commencement.
He also discovered that the project was intended to provide access to a property purchased by Dalida, which was being developed into a commercial housing project to attract buyers.
To justify the construction, Dalida reportedly urged the Barangay Council of Camaysa, Tayabas City, to pass a resolution approving the project, even though it lacked the necessary approval from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Public and Highways.
Oblena maintained that a road was unnecessary on his property as there was already an existing path used by others to access their lands.
He asserted that Dalida’s actions constituted a clear violation of the Revised Penal Code, specifically RA 3019 and RA 6713, as well as Presidential Decree 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippine).
Councilor Dino Romero was installed as acting vice mayor and concurrent presiding officer of the city council.
The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Vice Mayor Rosauro Dalida here following an administrative complaint filed against him by a retired ambassador.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2309236/cagayan-vice-governor-starts-90-day-preventive-suspension-over-graft-case |
Cagayan Vice Gov. Manuel Mamba began serving his 90-day preventive suspension on Monday, Sept. 21, after the Regional Trial Court in Batac, Ilocos Norte, denied his motion for reconsideration.
Mamba said he respected the court’s order, stressing that the suspension was “not a penalty but a procedural requirement.” He said he would exhaust all legal remedies and remained confident that justice would prevail.
He also expressed confidence in Acting Vice Gov. Randy Ursulum, the highest-ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to oversee its affairs during his absence.
The suspension stems from a graft case involving alleged irregularities in the payment of about P40 million for provincial infrastructure projects during Mamba’s tenure as governor.
The complaint was filed by JLL Pulsar Construction Corp., which sought payment for completed projects.
Mamba denied the allegations, saying his withholding of payment was part of a policy requiring payments to be released to registered project owners.
The case was transferred to Batac after prosecutors sought to move the proceedings from Cagayan to prevent possible influence-peddling.
The Commission on Audit has separately upheld JLL Pulsar’s claim for P40.34 million, citing a final arbitration award for completed and accepted projects.
Cagayan Vice Gov. Manuel Mamba began serving his 90-day preventive suspension on Monday, Sept. 21, after the Regional Trial Court in Batac, Ilocos Norte, denied his motion for reconsideration.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/22/sandiganbayan-orders-90-day-suspension-of-uswag-ilonggo-rep-jojo-ang |
The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr. while he faces graft charges over his alleged financial interest in a construction firm that secured government contracts.
In a four-page resolution promulgated on Monday, Sept. 21, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division ordered Ang’s suspension from the House of Representatives.
“ACCORDINGLY, the Court hereby orders the SUSPENSION pendente lite of accused James Ang Dit Ang Jr. as member of the House of Representatives, and from any other public position he may now or hereafter hold for a period of 90 days from receipt of this Resolution,” the Sandiganbayan ordered.
As such, the anti-graft court ordered that the Speaker of the House of Representatives be furnished a copy of the resolution for the implementation of Ang’s suspension.
“The House Speaker is requested to inform this Court, within 15 days from receipt of this Resolution, of the action taken thereon,” it said.
“The suspension of accused Ang shall automatically be lifted upon the expiration of the 90-day period from the implementation of this Resolution,” it added.
Ang is facing two counts of violation of Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division.
The Sandiganbayan said Section 13 of RA 3019 requires the suspension of an incumbent public officer facing criminal prosecution under a valid information for violation of the anti-graft law.
“As pointed out by accused Ang, suspension under the said provision is not automatic. However, it is mandatory,” the court said.
During a hearing on Sept. 1, the court directed Ang to explain why he should not be preventively suspended over the pending cases.
In his manifestation, Ang argued that preventive suspension was unwarranted because his alleged financial or pecuniary interest in Allencon, on which the charges were based, no longer existed.
He said he had completely divested himself of his shares and interests in the company and maintained that the alleged violation was not a continuing offense.
Likewise, Ang argued that there was no showing that his continued exercise of legislative functions would allow him to influence Allencon’s officers or employees, interfere with its records, or otherwise affect the proceedings.
He further claimed that the evidence of guilt was not strong and that his suspension would deprive Uswag Ilonggo of representation in the House.
The court, however, said Ang had already been given the opportunity to challenge the validity of the criminal informations.
His motion to quash, which questioned the court’s jurisdiction over the cases, was denied on Aug. 24. He later pleaded not guilty to the charges on Sept. 1.
“Any remaining objection to the validity of the Informations has been deemed waived,” the court said.
“In fine, the requisites for suspension under Sec. 13 of Republic Act No. 3019 have been met,” it added.
The resolution was penned by Sixth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, with Associate Justices Kevin Narce B. Vivero and Lord A. Villanueva concurring.
On July 25, Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) announced that it Ang with 14 counts of graft before the anti-graft court for allegedly retaining an interest in a construction firm that secured P214 million in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contracts while he was in Congress.
“While sitting in Congress, Rep. Ang holds a stake in a construction firm that won ₱214 million in DPWH contracts — and was paid nearly ₱199 million for them,” Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” Clavano IV said.
Per the OMB, the Constitution bars members of Congress from holding any financial interest in government contracts while serving their terms.
The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr. while he faces graft charges over his alleged financial interest in a construction firm that secured government contracts.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/23/former-brgy-kagawad-arrested-in-pinili-buy-bust-suspected-shabu-seized |
A 46-year-old former barangay kagawad, identified by police as a regional high-value individual (HVI), was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Aglipay, Pinili, Ilocos Norte on Sept. 21, 2026.
Personnel of the Pinili Municipal Police Station reportedly arrested the suspect after he allegedly sold one heat-sealed sachet containing suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer.
Police recovered a total of 1.9 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated standard drug price of P12,920.
The suspect was placed under police custody following the operation for proper documentation and filing of charges.
Authorities said the suspect will face chrages for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The operation was conducted as part of the police's continuing campaign against illegal drugs in the province.
A former barangay kagawad has been arrested on drug charges.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2310417/angeles-city-cop-nabbed-for-firing-his-service-firearm-in-tarlac |
Policemen arrested a patrolman for firing his service firearm into the air during an argument with his father before midnight on Tuesday in Victoria, Tarlac.
The incident took place at 11:50 p.m. in Rigor Compound, Barangay San Nicolas, the Central Luzon police said in a report on Wednesday.
“Initial investigation showed that the 26-year-old patrolman, who is assigned to the Angeles City Police Station, was allegedly under the influence of liquor when he figured in an argument with his father over a family land dispute,” police said.
During an altercation, the patrolman allegedly drew his government-issued pistol and fired a shot into the air.
Alarmed residents immediately reported the incident to the Victoria police.
Policemen who responded to the distress call arrested the patrolman and confiscated his service firearm. They also recovered a fired cartridge case in the area.
“The officer remains in the custody of Victoria Municipal Police Station while requests for ballistic examination and paraffin testing, as well as documents for the filing of appropriate charges, are being prepared,” according to the Central Luzon Police Office.
The uniform does not place anyone above the law. If one of our personnel is involved in an alleged violation, we expect our units to act promptly and according to procedure. Due process will be observed, but misconduct that may endanger the public or damage the integrity of the organization will not be ignored,” said Police Brigadier General Jess Mendez, Region III police director,He said appropriate criminal and administrative action will proceed based on the investigation’s outcome.
A cop has been arrested for firing a gun during an argument with his father.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/23/village-chair-gunned-down-in-negros-oriental |
A barangay captain was gunned down in Barangay Kansumandig, La Libertad, Negros Oriental on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said gunshots were heard as the victim was driving a motorcycle on his way home. People found the victim lifeless on the road.
Police recovered three spent shells and four slugs of a .45 caliber firearm and a cellular phone near his body.
Police Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales, PRO-NIR director, proceeded to the area to supervise police response.
Follow-up investigation is ongoing.
A barangay captain has been assassinated.
