DAVAO CITY (May 29) — The Sandiganbayan convicted former mayor Rolen Urriquia and municipal treasurer Eva Mendoza, both from Rizal, Laguna, for failure to account the cash they withdraw from the municipal fund. Investigation disclosed that from 18 to 31 March 2010, Urriquia and Mendoza caused the unauthorized withdrawals from the municipality’s authorized depository bank […]
Where's Our Money
Duterte fires government corporate counsel Rudolf Philip Jurado
DAVAO CITY (May 28) — President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Government Corporate Counsel Rudolf Philip Jurado, for allegedly favoring the gambling franchise to the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (Apeco). Duterte was talking about the newly signed Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018 — a law that addresses the failure of the Anti-Red […]
Sandiganbayan suspends Bulacan city councilor
DAVAO CITY (May 27) — The Sandiganbayan ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Sangguniang Panlungsod member Nolly Concepcion of San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. Concepcion is facing trial for violation of Usurpation of Official Function under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. The Office of the Ombudsman found that under the pretense of […]
Sandiganbayan suspends Tagbina, Surigao del Sur Mayor
DAVAO CITY (May 25) –— The Sandiganbayan ordered the 90-day suspension pending investigation of mayor Generoso Naraiso of Tagbina, Surigao del Sur. Naraiso is facing trial for violating the the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, on his unlawful withholding of the release and payment of the Representation and Transportation Allowance of the municipal accountant from March […]
Ombudsman charges Mindanao exec for allowing her husband to join a gov’t seminar
DAVAO CITY (May 25) — The Office of the Ombudsman charged Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Director in Davao City, for allowing her husband to participate in a health seminar at Ritz Hotel in 2015. The Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Director Charlita Escaño, of the Office of Finance and Administrative Services of the MinDA, […]
Sandiganbayan orders San Enrique Iloilo Mayor, treasurer to pay P700k
DAVAO CITY (MAY 23) — The Sandiganbayan found mayor Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez and municipal treasurer Imelda Celebrar, both of San Enrique, Iloilo, guilty of delaying the contribution of the GSIS and Pag-Ibig fund remittances of their employees. The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has ordered Fernandez and Celebrar and the municipal treasurer to pay a fine of P700,000 […]
NFA employee pleads guilty to falsifying PDS
DAVAO CITY (May 23) — The Regional Trial Court, Branch 95 of Quezon City convicted former Public Relations Officer IV Emmanuel Jacob Salonga of the National Food Authority (NFA) of Perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code. The court sentenced Salonga to imprisonment of four months as minimum to two years and four […]
BIR employee pleads guilty to SALN violation
DAVAO CITY (May 22) — The Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 71 of Pasig City convicted Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Officer III Caesar Cortes for violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Cortes failed to submit a truthful and detailed declaration of his business interests and financial connections in […]
DPWH execs indicted, dismissed over bridge project anomalies
DAVAO CITY (May 17) — The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of two top officials of the Department of Public Work and Highways from the 3rd Negros Occidental Engineering District, over anomalies in the rehabilitation of the Mabua bridge in Barangay Poblacion and Bagambayan bridge in Barangay Tiling, both in Cauayan, Negros Occidental. Ordered […]
Duterte asks two assistant secretaries to resign
DAVAO CITY (May 16) — President Rodrigo Duterte asked two Assistant Secretaries to resign from their post or face termination, over alleged involvement in corrupt practices. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque identified the two as Assistant Secretaries Moslemen T. Macarambon, Sr. of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Assistant Secretary Tingagun A. Umpa of the Department […]
How Wealthy is House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez? (first of two parts)
DAVAO CITY (May 12) — When asked how many properties House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has in Siargao, local residents will immediately point out to vast track of properties in the island. Some would even said, Alvarez went into massive buying of properties since 2016. The records acquired from the General Luna Municipal Assessor’s Office (MAO) […]
Sandiganbayan suspends Pampanga Mayor
DAVAO CITY, Philippines –— The Sandiganbayan suspended Guagua, Pampanga Mayor Dante Torres for 90 days over misuse of P2.7-million fund. The anti-graft body ordered Torres, to cease and desist from performing the duties and privileges of his position, or any other public office he may be now holding for 90 days. Torres is facing charges […]
Sandiganbayan convicts Ex-Samar Mayor, 3 others over P6.9-m GSIS premium
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan convicted former San Sebastian, Samar Mayor Arnold Abalos, Municipal Treasurer Virginia Uy and Municipal Accountant Pepita Mabini for failure to remit the Government Service Insurance System of the municipal employees. The Sandiganbayan sentenced the officials who faced 40 counts of violation of Section 52(c) of the Government Service Insurance […]