Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Rene Maglanque has been ordered suspended for 90 days by the Sandiganbayan as he faces 97 counts of malversation and 97 counts of graft in connection with the alleged misuse of ₱900 million worth of Malampaya funds.
In its January 19 resolution, the anti-graft court cited Section 13 of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Rule 8, Section 4 of the Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan as basis for the suspension.
“It is worth stressing that preventive suspension has a twofold purpose: to prevent the accused from hampering his prosecution; and to prevent the accused from committing further malfeasance in office. These objectives further reinforce the principle that public office is a public trust,” the court said.
“Considering that Maglanque is charged with offenses that clearly fall under Section 13 of Republic Act No. 3019, his preventive suspension is therefore justified,” the Sandiganbayan added.
The court noted that Maglanque was given the opportunity to explain why he should not be placed under preventive suspension but failed to respond.
“The records show that despite counsel for Maglanque’s receipt of the court’s Resolution on October 15, 2025, he nevertheless failed to submit the required compliance,” the Sandiganbayan said.
The resolution clarified that Maglanque’s suspension will be automatically lifted after the 90-day period.
Court records indicated that the alleged offenses were committed when Maglanque was still a private citizen.
The cases, filed in 2017, stem from the supposed diversion of ₱900 million in Malampaya funds—government revenues from the Camago-Malampaya Reservoir service contract—originally intended for relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas devastated by Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng between 2009 and 2010.