Ombudsman dismisses Borbon vice mayor

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the nepotism complaint against Borbon Vice Mayor Noel Dotillos but found him administratively liable for grave misconduct over his continued hiring of his retired wife as a consultant without prior authorization from the Sangguniang Bayan.

In a decision dated October 15, 2025, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Noel, who is the town’s former mayor, from government service, with cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits except leave credits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government.

The case stemmed from the hiring of his wife, Dr. Corazon Dotillos, the municipality’s former municipal health officer, under contracts of service after her mandatory retirement.

Corazon reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 on October 5, 2021. She was initially granted a six-month extension of service until April 5, 2022 and was later granted a second extension covering April 6 to October 5, 2022.

After the expiration of her extension, the municipality continued to engage her through contracts of service to perform consultancy work.

The Ombudsman noted that from October 18, 2023 to October 18, 2024, the municipality entered into contracts with Corazon without prior authority from the Sangguniang Bayan.

It said this violated Section 22(c) of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, which requires prior authorization from the local legislative body for certain contracts entered into by the local chief executive.

The decision also noted that although several Sangguniang Bayan resolutions were cited as authority for the contracts, the resolutions did not specifically identify the corresponding contract periods they authorized.

The Ombudsman said the records also contained no evidence of a specific appropriation ordinance authorizing the consultancy services, which could have constituted an exception under the Local Government Code.

“Such manifest intent to violate RA 7160 is considered grave misconduct,” the decision stated.

Noel, in his counter-affidavit, denied the allegations and argued that the renewal of his wife’s services was necessary because no other physicians were willing to assume the responsibilities.

He also claimed that the daily remuneration of ?3,500 was below what his wife rightfully deserved and that the hiring was supported by a Sangguniang Bayan resolution.

He further argued that the final decision to hire a municipal health officer rests with the local chief executive.

The Ombudsman, however, ruled that the evidence did not establish nepotism.

It cited Civil Service Commission rules providing that the prohibition on nepotism does not cover consultants and that the prohibition on hiring those who have reached compulsory retirement age also has an exception for consultancy services.

Thus, the administrative charge for nepotism was dismissed for lack of substantial evidence.

Following Noel’s dismissal from government service, the town’s number one councilor, Brino Sepulveda, is expected to take oath as the new vice mayor. — (FREEMAN)