Toledo mayor unware of complaint filed against her before Ombudsman

CEBU, Philippines — Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales yesterday said that she is unware of any complaint filed by

former Toledo City hospital chief Dr. Bonito Zanoria against her.

This after Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas reportedly directed Perales to file her counter-affidavit in the complaint filed by Zanoria against her after finding found enough basis to proceed with the investigation.

In message sent to The Freeman yesterday, Perales said she has yet to receive a copy of Zanoria’s complaint and the order from the anti-graft office dated September 27, 2024.

“I am not aware of any cases that was filed against me by Dr. Zanoria, but what I am aware of are the criminal and administrative cases that were filed by the subordinates of Dr. Zanoria against him at the Office of the Ombudsman,” Perales said.

The mayor, however, did not provide details on the complaint Zanoria is facing before the Ombudsman.

In the Ombudsman order, Perales has been asked to file her counter-affidavit and other controverting evidence on the case filed by Zanoria, the former Toledo City chief of hospital during the mayorship of John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña.

Zanoria filed a complaint against Perales before the anti-graft office on July 29, 2024 for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service, after the mayor transferred him to the city health office on an officer-in-charge capacity.

In his complaint, Zanoria stated that he is an employee of Toledo City Government having been permanently appointed as City Government Department Head I or Chief of Hospital on January 14, 2015, by then mayor Osmeña.

Zanoria added in his complaint that he held such a position since July 5, 2019 until when he was reassigned/designated as Officer-in-Charge of the City Health Department by virtue of a Memorandum issued by Perales.

Then a new Officer-in-Charge/Chief of the Hospital was designated in the person of Dr. Clyde Vincent Bequilla.

“As a newly elected mayor then, I did not question the wisdom of Mayor Perales in reassigning/designating me as Officer-in-Charge of the City Health Department, instead I obeyed and followed her order without any doubt and reservation thinking that this is only temporary and I will be returned to my department and position as Chief of Hospital,” Zanoria stated.

However, Zanoria said that three years have lapsed and the first term of Perales has ended, yet he was not restored or reassigned back to his permanent department and position as chief of hospital.

Zanoria said that though he already felt oppressed, cast out, and belittled despite his accomplishments, especially during the COVID period, he still did not take action against the mayor giving her the benefit of the doubt since no person was appointed yet to the plantilla of City Health Officer II or Department Head of the City Health Department.

Zanoria said that Perales got re-elected in 2022 for her second term as mayor of the city and after the first year of her second term or on May 1, 2023, the mayor filled up the plantilla of City Health Officer II and appointed in permanent position Dr. Abjel Khan Espera.

To pave the way for the assumption of Dr. Espera as Department Head of the City Health Department and likewise designated as Officer in Charge/Chief of Hospital, Zanoria said that he was reassigned to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to head the medical Response Team, a division office of CDRRMO.

“I could no longer swallow the insult, the demeaning of my being a department head and then reassigned to a mere division office of CDRRMO as head of the Medical Response Team,” Zanoria said, adding the mayor could have just reassigned him back to his original position.

Zanoria added that the act of the mayor in not restoring him or not reassigning him back to his permanent position, is unjust, illegal, and oppressive that maybe deemed and categorized as grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.

Zanoria in his three-page complaint prayed that pending investigation and to prevent the mayor from tampering documents, influencing, and harassing witnesses asked the Ombudsman to issue a preventive suspension against the mayor and after due hearing to suspend her for not less than six months and charge her with the corresponding crime under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In the Order, the Ombudsman directed the mayor to file her counter-affidavit and other controverting evidence strictly within ten days from receipt.

She is also required to submit proof of service of her counter-affidavit and/or evidence to the complainant, who may file a reply-affidavit within an inextendible period of ten days from receipt of the same.

The Ombudsman said that failure to comply as directed within the period prescribed by the rules, shall be deemed a waiver of the right to present the party's counter-affidavit or reply-affidavit and the investigation shall proceed according to existing rules.

But Perales said did not receive any registered mail from the Ombudsman.

“Until now, akong gipa check sa among logbook wa mi kadawat og any registered mail from the Ombudsman about sa complaint and the latest Order. I will just wait for the official copies of the complaint and the Order, then I will issue my statement,” Perales said.

Zanoria’s lawyer received the copy of the Order on October 22, 2024.

Further, Zanoria is no longer a government employee of the city after he filed his certificate of candidacy for city councilor last October 8, 2025 under the slate of mayoralty candidate Ceasar “Ian” Zambo, who is running against Perales.