The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division has issued arrest warrants against former Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Arlene Yorobe Alfelor and two former city officials over alleged irregularities involving P31.042 million in government funds in 2022.
Also charged were former supervising administrative officer Ruben Salazar Delos Santos and former city treasurer Jean Aquino Bongon, who are facing charges of malversation of public funds in relation to the alleged falsification of an official document.
The court did not recommend bail for the case.
Alfelor voluntarily surrendered and is currently detained at the Quezon City Female Dormitory. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested Delos Santos early Tuesday, September 22, in Parañaque City.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Iriga City Government following the discovery of alleged irregularities in the disbursement and liquidation of P31.042 million in Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) funds.
According to Iriga City Mayor Wilfredo Rex Oliva, approximately 15,000 beneficiaries were listed in payroll records but allegedly did not receive the financial assistance indicated, which ranged from P1,500 to P2,000 per beneficiary.
Authorities also allegedly discovered forged signatures of supposed beneficiaries, including individuals who had already died.
Based on a resolution issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, probable cause was found to charge Alfelor, Bongon, and Delos Santos under the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The Iriga City Legal Office, however, emphasized that a finding of probable cause does not constitute a final determination of guilt. The accused remain entitled to due process and all remedies provided under the law.
