Zamboanga Sur governor, wife charged with plunder

MANILA, Philippines - Former environment secretary and now Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio Cerilles and his wife, Rep. Aurora Cerilles, are facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 In an 18-page complaint-affidavit, Ruel Molina and Tyrone Singgo, who claimed to have worked for the Cerilles couple, alleged that the couple spent millions in public funds for ghost projects and ghost deliveries.

 Molina and Singgo, who said they worked as chiefs-of-staff for Mrs. Cerilles, also accused the spouses of operating an illegal numbers game called “suertres” in the province.

 They also accused the governor of having an illicit affair with a 22-year-old woman, adding that he gave her a sports utility vehicle and monthly allowance of P20,000.  

 Molina and Singgo said they decided to come out in the open and reveal what they know after learning that they have been placed on a “hit list.”

 â€œWe have reached the point in our lives that we could no longer, in conscience, follow the orders of the Cerilles couple,” they added.

 â€œWe could not allow ourselves to be forever used as instruments and implementers of their corrupt and criminal acts, not to mention their penchant to inflict physical harm upon their political and personal enemies even to the point of committing murder,” they said.

“All throughout the three consecutive terms of then governor and now Rep. Aurora Cerilles, provincial funds were freely spent and heavy equipment of the provincial government were used for the construction or renovation of buildings and establishments owned by the Cerilles couple,” the complainants alleged.

Molina and Singgo identified the properties allegedly owned by the Cerilles couple, which were supposed to be constructed or renovated using public money as the Hotel Andahaw in Pagadian City, Philippine Para-Medical and Technical School, a fishpond in the town of Pitogo and a warehouse in the town of Labangan.

They also accused the Cerilles couple of asking money from favored suppliers, and pay them using falsified documents and disbursement vouchers.

The complainants said the respondents also used government funds to purchase campaign materials and office supplies for the 2007 elections.

Molina and Singgo said Mrs. Cerilles’ involvement in suertres started in 2009. They also accused her of asking protection money from operators and received P100 million in payola and a monthly pay of P3 million.

Contacted by The STAR, Cerilles said the complaint is politically motivated. He also denied having hired the complainants.

“I might know them but they have never been employed with me,” he said.

“We will definitely respond, once I have a copy of it,” he added.