Ex-Misamis exec gets 21 years for falsification

MISAMIS, Philippines — A former official of the local government of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental has been convicted for falsifying city resolutions in conspiracy with former mayor Eleno Regidor Jr.

Marlene Mangao, former acting secretary of the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Tangub, pleaded guilty to seven counts of falsification of public documents by a private individual under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.

The Sandiganbayan’s First Division sentenced Mangao to up to 21 years in prison or up to three years for each count. The court also ordered her to pay a fine of P3,000.

Mangao’s admission of guilt was in accordance with a plea bargain deal which she entered with the Office of the Ombudsman. Under the deal, she would plead guilty to seven counts of a lesser offense in exchange for the dropping of the cases for falsification of public documents by a public officer, which carry heavier penalties.

Regidor and former councilor Camilo Zapatos were previously convicted of falsification of public documents by a public officer. They were sentenced to up to 56 and 24 years in prison, respectively.

The charges filed against their co-accused, former vice mayor Aniceto Siete, were dismissed due to his death before the resolution of the cases.

Mangao went into hiding when the cases were filed in May 1989. She only surfaced  during the promulgation of the decision in 2004. She previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on May 10, 1989, the cases stemmed from falsification of seven city resolutions by making it appear that they were deliberated and approved on various dates in 1988.

Among the resolutions are the P100-increase in the salary of city hall employees, appointment of a city health officer and requests for budget for the procurement of a microscope, electric typewriter, electric fan and other office equipment as well as the construction of a sports center.