Iligan mayor faces new raps

MANILA, Philippines - Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia has been indicted for performing his duties when he was detained from October 2015 to Jan. 30 this year.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges for usurpation of authority against Regencia before the Sandiganbayan on April 21.

Regencia was detained after he was charged with multiple murder and frustrated murder in connection with the ambush on the convoy of former Iligan congressman Vicente Belmonte at the Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental in 2014. Belmonte and three others were wounded while three of his aides were killed.

The ombudsman said Regencia issued directives and memoranda, signed checks and vouchers as well as appointed certain persons to various positions ”under the pretense that he has the authority as local chief executive.”   

The ombudsman said a local official is “legally incapacitated” to perform his duties when he is detained based on a valid complaint. Bail was set at P10,000.