Duero Mayor Al Cadorniga Taculad stepped down from office on Sept. 16 after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal for grave misconduct arising from his financial interest in municipal projects awarded to his construction firm.
Vice Mayor Hernes Bajao assumed the mayoralty following Taculad’s departure.
In a Sept. 1 decision, the Ombudsman found Taculad administratively liable for violations of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, with related provisions of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code.
The case involved two municipal projects-the river control project and the rainwater collector system-which were awarded to Altacs Construction, a company owned by Taculad while he was mayor.
The Ombudsman said Altacs Construction received a total of P76.2 million in payments for the two projects.
It also found that Taculad failed to divest his interest in the company after assuming office, which the Ombudsman cited as a conflict of interest and basis for the finding of grave misconduct.
The dismissal carries the forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and a ban on taking civil service examinations.
The Ombudsman also found sufficient basis for a criminal complaint against Taculad over alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and the Local Government Code.
Taculad denied responsibility for some of the documents cited in the case, claiming that his signatures on several bidding documents were forged. The Ombudsman said the issue of the alleged forged signatures would be more appropriately resolved during trial.
Taculad said he voluntarily stepped down to comply with the Ombudsman’s order.
In a farewell message to municipal employees posted on Facebook, Taculad said the administrative complaint had been filed by his political opponents nearly two years ago.
He said he faced the complaint but acknowledged that the outcome was unfavorable.
‘I will tell you that these decisions are really difficult to accept, knowing that we did nothing wrong. We did not steal any money,’ Taculad said in Cebuano.
He also said he believed the case was intended to derail his public service and political career.
‘This is intended to destroy us. They want us to stop serving the people and to leave politics,’ he said.
Duero is a fourth-class municipality about 73 kilometers from Tagbilaran City, with a population of around 19,000.