Seven municipal councilors from Calape, Bohol surrendered to authorities recently after a judge issued arrest warrants in connection with alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Judge Lindecita Arcamo of the Tagbilaran City court issued the warrants based on criminal information from the Office of the Ombudsman, which found probable cause that the councilors violated Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019.
The councilors named in the warrants are Joyce M. Josol, Maria Aileen D. Veloso, Jeanie Verano, Ma. Leonora G. Rulona, Bella C. Ancog, Amado T. Samijon and Mark Louise C. Cambangay.
The seven councilors surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Tagbilaran City, where they waited more than eight hours before posting bail.
Each posted P90,000 pesos in bail to secure temporary liberty while the case proceeds.
According to Councilor Verano, who discussed the matter during a municipal council session livestreamed on the Office of the Vice Mayor of Calape’s Facebook account, their release was delayed after Judge Arcamo initially denied their motion for bail.
Under Philippine law, accused persons cannot post bail until they have been arrested or have surrendered to authorities.
The criminal case stems from a complaint filed in 2024 by then-Mayor Atty. Julius Herrera regarding Municipal Ordinance No. 2024-01, which affected the municipality’s budget of P174,088,910 pesos.
The Ombudsman found probable cause that the seven councilors removed five priority development projects proposed by Herrera and the Municipal Development Council from the budget.
This action allegedly reduced the 20% Development Fund allocation below the mandatory threshold required by the Local Government Code.
The Local Government Code requires that 20% of a municipality’s budget be allocated to development projects prioritized by the local chief executive.
The complaint alleged that by blocking these projects, the councilors rendered the budget inoperative and prevented proper use of municipal funds, thereby causing injury to the residents of Calape through inadequate public services.
The case has been transferred from the Ombudsman to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
As with all criminal cases in the Philippines, the complaint is now styled as “People of the Philippines versus” the seven councilors.
The court order says the accused “are probably guilty thereof and should be held for trial.”
The issuance of arrest warrants allows the court to place the accused under the custody of law and proceed with trial proceedings.