NBI hit for filing corruption charges against mayor, 11 others before Ombudsman

The Manila Times

NBI hit for filing corruption charges against mayor, 11 others before Ombudsman  Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante slams the National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas (NBI 7) for filing corruption charges against him and 11 others before the Ombudsman over a P9.65-million road project in Barangay Poblacion, questioning the investigation and the timing of the case given the upcoming elections. In a press conference at the municipal hall on April 3, 2025, Cesante decried the lack of due process, stating that the local government has yet to receive a copy of the complaint and emphasized the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Dalaguete town is approximately 88 kilometers from Cebu City.   VIDEO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes #TMTNews #Philippines #NBI

Transcript

00:00...the municipality of Delegate Bay, interestingly, filed at the start of the campaign period for national and local elections on March 28th, last March 28th.

00:19This is my statement. First of all, we would like to emphasize that we have not received a copy of the complaint filed against us.

00:35The NBI Region 7 recently invited us last February 18th to shed light on the complaint. We appeared before them and gave our evidence.

00:53Unfortunately, the NBI Region 7, despite its duty on Monday to conduct efficient and comprehensive investigation, chose not to accept our evidence.

01:12They did not even give us a copy of the alleged complaint filed against us despite our request. How can we answer a complaint that we do not know of?

01:29This is not the first time a case has been filed against LGU. In fact, this is the 7th case already this year. Notice the interesting timing exactly 45 days prior to election.

01:49The complainant, Ildebrando Albagro, is a dismissed engineer of this municipality. Truth be told, LGU, Municipality of Delegate Engineering Office, denied prior project on the same stretch of the road, Manuel L. Quezon Road.

02:15Because of our, you know, many priorities as well, the project implementation was segmented only on those areas that really badly needs improvement, especially, I think, I remember, it was nearly Fiesta 2024, I think.

02:41So, that's how the project was implemented. Not knowing that DPWH has approved a project also for the same stretch, for the same road, but the other area where DPWH works.

02:59Documents at the DPWH, at the engineering office, will bear this out. Also, our program of works, our documents also will bear this out. These were implemented legally. These were implemented in the best interest of the government.

03:29Thank you for watching!

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