Naga: The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges before the Naga, Cebu Regional Trial Court against the suspended officials of Minglanilla town in Cebu province. The Ombudsman found probable cause to file charges against Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad, Vice Mayor Elanito Pe±a, 10 Sangguniang Bayan members, and the municipal administrator for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 10 councilors identified include Oscar Ca±ares Dela Calzada Jr., Samuel Gordsin Adlawan Jr., Jesus Denoyo Velez, Jeremias Llanos Ca±ares, Jaime Secretarya Caumeran, Jenifer Dejan Lariosa, Proserfina Laput Fajutrao, Jenny Zafra Young, Petronilo Entera Traya, and Rick Ryan Zafra. Minglanilla Municipal Administrator Junrie Casquejo Bragat was also charged following the denial of the rehabilitation plan for Sitio Napo in Barangay Guindarohan, Minglanilla.
The Ombudsman issued a one-year preventive suspension to the respondents. The charges stemmed from the local government's repeated refusal to approve a rehabilitation plan submitted by Jomara Konstruct Corporation and Jomara Agri Foods and Supply Corporation.
The situation began in December 2021, when ground cracks appeared on a quarry surface. This prompted the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to conduct a geohazard assessment, and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) subsequently issued a Cease-and-Desist Order (CDO). In response, the complainants developed a rehabilitation plan.
Despite receiving support and recommendations from the MGB, EMB, and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), the municipality of Minglanilla consistently blocked the plan. The Sangguniang Bayan issued resolutions denying both the rehabilitation plan and the complainants' applications for a Special Waste Disposal Permit.
The Ombudsman determined that the respondents acted with evident bad faith, manifest partiality, or gross inexcusable negligence when disapproving the rehabilitation plan despite the partial lifting of the CDO by DENR for its implementation. The respondents were also found to have provided unwarranted benefits to competitors by ignoring EMB's recommendations.
The Ombudsman noted that the respondents' actions established a conspiracy, as evidenced by the Sangguniang Bayan members passing SB Resolution No. 271 series of 2022, which denied the rehabilitation plan, and its subsequent approval by Mayor Enad. However, the complaint against the acting Sangguniang Bayan Secretary was dismissed due to lack of merit.
