21/07/2025
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TARLAKENYO (July 21, 2025) -- The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a preventive suspension order against 13 officials and employees of the Tarlac City Government following a damning report by the Commission on Audit (COA) Special Audit Team (SAT).
The SAT uncovered widespread irregularities in the procurement of drugs and medicines from 2017 to 2018. The suspension, effective immediately, is based on strong evidence of guilt for offenses including grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to public service. The COA audit revealed systemic violations in procurement processes, resulting in millions of pesos in questionable transactions.
The Order was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on July 7 and approved on July 15. Tarlakenyo was able to obtain a copy of the Order only today. (Copy of the Order here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v-pQCGnoykYyHWbwGcHetCnokIP3n81j/view?usp=sharing )
Among the key findings, Romeo J. De Leon, the BAC Chairman, was found to have approved procurements with incomplete or vague specifications, violating RA 9184 procurement rules and enabling overpricing. BAC Vice Chairmen Jose M. Dungca and Numer P. Lobo facilitated procurements that exceeded budget limits or were not properly included in Annual Procurement Plans. BAC members Lorina V. Ledesema, Reymar C. Razon, and Emilou S.F. Sicangco were implicated in bypassing procurement protocols, leading to illegal contract awards, while Cesarina Macuha, the Head of the BAC Secretariat, failed to ensure compliance with bidding requirements.
Sicangco is the former Human Resources Officer of the city government; she stepped down, along with Macuha, when the term of then-mayor Cristy Angeles ended on June 30, 2025. Sicangco is the daughter of COA Regional Director Lynn Sicangco. Lobo, meanwhile, was the city administrator. De Leon is the younger brother of city councilor Enrico de Leon.
Further violations were uncovered among other officials. Tristan Gozum, the Project Engineer and BAC TWG Member, falsely certified medicines as compliant with the Philippine National Formulary (PNF), violating health regulations. City Health Officer Ma. Carmela Lacsamana-Go approved payments based on fraudulent certifications that supporting documents were complete when they were not. Lacsamana-Go is the wife of Tarlac Second District Board Member Dennis Go.
City Accountant Roland S. Domingo pre-signed checks before disbursement vouchers were approved, facilitating ghost deliveries, while City Treasurer Agnes Torres sent Requests for Quotations (RFQs) to unqualified suppliers, breaching procurement laws.
Inspection Officer Orlando A. Gatpolintan allowed Theya Enterprises to supply items without a Mayorβs Permit or FDA License, risking public health, and Property/Supply Officer Renato D. Policarpio Jr. failed to maintain inventory records, resulting in P24.6 million in unaccounted medical supplies.
All 13 employees are identified as close associates of ex-mayor Angeles.
The Ombudsmanβs order mandates a six-month preventive suspension without pay pending a full investigation. The suspension is immediately executory and aims to prevent evidence tampering, halt further malfeasance, and ensure an unbiased inquiry given the severity of the charges.
The COA report highlighted alarming figures, including P7.09 million in overpriced contracts, P843,900 spent on non-PNF-listed medicines, P50.83 million in contracts paid without proof of delivery (ghost deliveries), and P24.62 million in missing medical supplies due to inventory lapses.
Tarlakenyo is still verifying whether the other named city officials are still affiliated with the local government unit.
The suspended officials may file motions for reconsideration within five days, but the suspension remains in effect unless overturned by higher courts. The case has been forwarded to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for further action.
The complaint was filed by then Tarlac City Vice-Mayor Genaro Mendoza, city councilors P*e Jay Basangan and Emily Ladera-Facunla, and former councilor Vladimir Rodriguez, alleging corruption in the cityβs health procurement system.
Read more here: https://tarlakenyo.com/2025/07/ombudsman-suspends-13-tarlac-city-officials-over-anomalies/
