TWO Mandaue City job order (JO) employees were terminated on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, after an internal investigation found them guilty of tampering with official receipts and pocketing public funds.
City Administrator Gonzalo Malig-on said one employee took P280,000 by altering receipts; while the other took P10,000. Both will face criminal charges despite signing an undertaking to repay the money.
Malig-on added that the employees admitted to the acts, which were captured on CCTV. Their termination was approved by Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano.
“The City will initiate the filing of charges, including criminal cases. They will also be required to return the amount they took,” Malig-on said.
Both signed undertakings to reimburse the City Government, but Malig-on said restitution would not exempt them from facing legal consequences.
“The law must be applied, and the violations must be addressed,” he said.
The internal investigation revealed clear evidence of misconduct, including CCTV footage from inside City Hall that captured their actions. According to Malig-on, the video recordings were crucial in establishing accountability.
“They admitted to taking the money, and it was difficult for them to deny it because the CCTV cameras captured their actions. Perhaps they did not realize that all CCTV cameras in City Hall are fully functional,” he said.
Malig-on said a memorandum was issued to the immediate supervisor of the two employees, questioning the lack of oversight that allowed the irregularities to occur.
“There should have been proper supervision. The memo for the supervisor is ready and may be served today,” he said.
Both terminated workers had been with City Hall for less than a year—one for almost 12 months and the other for only a few months—before their involvement in the fund irregularity was uncovered.
“We are not taking this lightly. Accountability is important, and this incident should serve as a reminder that public service is a position of trust,” Malig-on said.
He also underscored the value of City Hall’s surveillance system in maintaining transparency and deterring corruption.
“These cameras are a big help in our offices. This serves as a warning to everyone who thinks the CCTV units here are not working—they are all operational,” Malig-on said.
As legal actions move forward, the Mandaue City Government assured the public that measures are being strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future. / ABC