BACO, Oriental Mindoro — Mayor Allan Roldan of Baco town has been removed from office after the Office of the Ombudsman found him guilty of grave misconduct tied to local infrastructure projects.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the dismissal order on Thursday, October 22, prompting Vice Mayor Brederick “Eric” Castillo to step up as the municipality’s new chief executive. Roldan opted to comply with the directive and vacated his post.
In its nine-page ruling, the Ombudsman stated, “Wherefore, finding substantial evidence, judgment is hereby rendered finding respondent Allan Abrigo Roldan administratively liable for grave misconduct.”
The anti-graft body further detailed his punishment, stating, “He is meted the penalty of dismissal from the service, with the corresponding accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, bar from taking civil service examinations and forfeiture of retirement benefits.”
The legal trouble originated from a complaint filed by the Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office 4-B, highlighting irregularities in project execution through Notices of Awards (NOA) and Statements of Time Elapsed and Work Accomplishment (STEWA).
As the head of the procuring entity, Roldan greenlit three local initiatives: the rehabilitation of the municipal compound’s security entrance gate, the completion of the municipal building façade, and improvements to the regional health unit building.
Investigators discovered that Roldan held financial interests in the ventures by permitting MIDR Construction, the winning contractor, to utilize heavy machinery owned by Del Rol Enterprises—a private firm under Roldan’s ownership.
Furthermore, COA audits indicated that construction activities had already started and finished ahead of the official public bidding and contract awards.
While Roldan rejected the accusations, maintaining he had no knowledge of a lease agreement between MIDR Construction and Del Rol and dismissing social media evidence and geotagged photos as potentially manipulated, the Ombudsman concluded that he violated laws barring public officials from holding material interests in office-approved transactions.