NBI-7 sues town mayor

The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) has formally charged Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante and 11 others before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas on March 28, 2025.

- Mitchelle Palaubsanon Staff Member

NBI-7 charged Cesante and his co-accused with three violations: Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation of Public Funds or Property); and grave misconduct as penalized under Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The charge of grave misconduct applies only to government officials and employees, excluding the private individuals involved.

Aside from Cesante, a reelectionist, those charged include Expedizitas Lenares, Dalaguete municipal engineer, James Osorio, Municipal Engineering Office, Dalaguete Municipal Hall; Sergio Bendulo Jr. chief, DPWH-District Engineering Office; and Juan Paulo Castillo, junior project engineer, DPWH-7-DEO.

Also facing charges are five officials of Socor Construction Corporation (SCC).

In a press release, NBI-7 stated that the charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Engineer Ildebrando Almagro, a former Dalaguete municipal employee and concerned citizen. Prior to Almagro's complaint, the agency had also received similar complaints from anonymous sources.