The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the mayor and vice mayor of Zarraga town in Iloilo for grave misconduct over an alleged illegal land deal, while suspending seven town officials for approving the contract without the required “qualified majority” vote.
In its 22-page decision, the Ombudsman found Mayor Ma. Jofel Soldevilla and Vice Mayor Michael Omar Lacson administratively liable for entering into a P11.6-million land deal involving a property owned by Lacson’s family, despite the lack of full authority from the municipal council.
Deputy Ombudsman Jose Balmeo Jr. ruled on the case on September 17, 2025.
The decision ordered their dismissal from service with penalties including forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and a bar from taking civil service examinations. If the dismissal can no longer be enforced, it will be converted to a fine equivalent to one year’s salary
Former town councilor Andre Bon Sumagaysay filed the complaint on August 1, 2024, accusing Soldevilla and Lacson of grave abuse of authority in executing a July 13, 2023 contract to sell a 6,585-square-meter property owned by Lacson’s late father, Orlando.
Conflict of interest
At the time of the transaction, Lacson was still a municipal councilor and chaired the Committee on Housing and Land. He also sponsored the March 22, 2023 resolution authorizing the purchase, even though the 2023 LSP budget allotted only P5 million—far less than the P11.6 million contract price.
The Ombudsman said the P5-million down payment was released even before ownership of the land was transferred to the local government, causing undue injury to public funds.
The remaining P6.6 million balance also created “unauthorized indebtedness”, violating provisions of the Local Government Code (LGC).
The Ombudsman also found that the town council failed to secure the required “qualified majority” vote when it approved the resolution authorizing the purchase.
Although six members, including the presiding officer, attended and voted in favor, the number did not meet the threshold required under the council’s internal rules.
It said the council should not have passed the resolution, especially since it involved a substantial public expenditure without full legislative authority.
Dubious
Investigators also found the selection of the property dubious, as it was located in a flood-prone area and other identified sites received higher evaluation scores.
The Ombudsman said Lacson remained involved in the transaction despite claiming he had inhibited himself from the appraisal committee’s proceedings when his family’s property was considered.
The decision concluded that Soldevilla and Lacson used their positions to advance personal interests and willfully violated established procedures, acts constituting grave misconduct.
The Ombudsman said Soldevilla and Lacson “conspired with each other and unlawfully used their positions to advance their personal interests.”
Suspended
Seven other Zarraga officials were found guilty of simple misconduct for their role in approving the resolution and failing to meet the required vote. They are Councilor Jose Jeffren Millan, former councilors Rolando Papa, Nelida Octaviano, and Mark Andrian Sulolayon, as well as accountant Era Lerdon, budget officer Glezil Mae Lozañes, and treasurer Leonora Pauya.
Each was suspended for six months without pay, or fined the equivalent of six months’ salary if no longer in service.
The Ombudsman said Soldevilla and Lacson’s actions demonstrated bad faith and clear intent to violate the law, resulting in their dismissal for grave misconduct.
The ruling stated that their actions showed “corrupt and depraved motives” and “blatant disregard of established rules.”
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.