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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ex-councilor, sister ordered arrested

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MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Norte—The country’s anti-graft court, the Sandiganbayan, 4th division has ordered the arrest of President Elipe, a former city councilor, and his sister Pristine Elipe-Quizon for alleged corruption.

President Elipe is the son-in-law of former mayor and local political kingpin Vicente Emano.

The arrest warrant stemmed from a corruption case filed by city administrator Dionnie Gersana accusing Elipe, Quizon, who was serving as Elipe’s secretary, former vice mayor Caesar Ian Acenas, city council secretary Arturo de San Miguel for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial for the best interest to serve.

Acenas and San Miguel were absolved of the charges.

In his complaint, Gersana said Quizon’s Daily Time Record (DTR) appeared she reported for work on Oct. 25, 29 and 30, 2013.

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But Gersana said Quizon was out of the country during those days and travel records from the Bureau of Immigration showed otherwise and that she was back in the country only on Oct. 30, 2013.

The Ombudsman ruled that Quizon could not have rendered work on Oct. 25, 29, and 30 for being out of the country.

The Ombudsman ruling said “She neither denied having affixed her signature on the DTR which is an act of attesting to the entries’ truthfulness and accuracy.

“Similarly, Elipe does not dispute that as Quizon’s brother and immediate supervisor, he very well knew of her absence and signed her DTR as true and correct.

“Such are clear acts of dishonesty and falsification.” 

“Their contention that ‘offsetting’ of overtime work is allowed as a common practice among the confidential staff of the Sanggunian lacks merit, as apart from the absence of evidence to prove its veracity, no law permits such a wrongful practice,” the Ombudsman added.

In the decision, the Ombudsman found Elipe guilty of serious dishonesty and falsification of an official document and was meted the supreme penalty of Dismissal from Service.

Days after the Ombudsman decision came out, Elipe’s legal counsel filed a motion for reconsideration at the Court of Appeals.

Cagayan de Oro Police Office City Director Sr. Supt. Ronnie Francis Cariaga said they received the Arrest Warrant last Nov. 4, and the City Public Safety Company tried to serve the warrant to the sibling but was not found.

Elipe, an accountant, is now serving as the General Manager of the Misamis Oriental Province’s-owned Pelaez Sports Center.

Elipe’s brother-in-law is the provincial governor of Misamis Oriental.

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