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SC upholds graft conviction of ex-Siquijor town mayor, 4 others
PH🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/8/2026

SC upholds graft conviction of ex-Siquijor town mayor, 4 others

The Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the graft conviction of former Siquijor town mayor Orville Fua and four other officials for their involvement in the illegal procurement of fertilizers worth over P4.9 million in 2004. The court confirmed the 2023 ruling by the Sandiganbayan, finding them guilty of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The officials included municipal engineer Sue Castillon, treasurer Natalio Jumawan, Jr., and accountant Rose Marie Tomogsoc, who failed to follow proper procurement procedures. Also convicted was Merlyn Lu of Mangopina Trading, Inc., the winning bidder, which was deemed ineligible due to its poor track record in government transactions. The court emphasized that the procurement process lacked required steps such as pre-procurement conferences and proper advertisements, leading to the conviction of all involved.

Jojo Ang’s four out of 14 graft cases have been consolidated in the Sandiganbayan Second Division, according to legal representatives. The consolidation involves two counts previously handled by the Fourth Division, transferred to the Second Division, which is also managing two other counts. The move affects Ang’s ongoing legal proceedings, with his arraignment having already taken place. During the arraignment, Ang pleaded not guilty to both counts under the Second Division. His counsel, Luis Veracruz, noted that the records from the Fourth Division had not yet been officially endorsed to the Second Division, delaying the pretrial. The pretrial has been rescheduled to September 15. Prosecutors allege that Ang had a financial interest in a construction company that secured P214 million in public works contracts while he served as a party-list representative. Separately, former Bureau of Fire Protection chief Jesus Fernandez pleaded not guilty to one of two graft cases pending before the Sandiganbayan. The case centers on an alleged P10.752 million bribe linked to the procurement of 132 ambulances valued at P485 million in 2025. According to prosecutors, the bribe was split into two payments: P10.752 million received from Rosaverna Sangga on November 21, 2024, and P4 million on September 25, 2025. The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division is handling the count related to the larger payment. During the hearing, Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg asked Fernandez for his plea, which he responded to with “not guilty.” The court scheduled the pretrial for September 29. Reporters attempted to secure a media statement from Fernandez, but he declined to comment.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

4 reports

Philippine Daily Inquirer logoPhilippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 909/8/2026
SC upholds graft conviction of ex-Siquijor town mayor, 4 others

The Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the graft conviction of former Siquijor town mayor Orville Fua and four other officials for their involvement in the illegal procurement of fertilizers worth over P4.9 million in 2004. The court confirmed the 2023 ruling by the Sandiganbayan, finding them guilty of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The officials included municipal engineer Sue Castillon, treasurer Natalio Jumawan, Jr., and accountant Rose Marie Tomogsoc, who failed to follow proper procurement procedures. Also convicted was Merlyn Lu of Mangopina Trading, Inc., the winning bidder, which was deemed ineligible due to its poor track record in government transactions. The court emphasized that the procurement process lacked required steps such as pre-procurement conferences and proper advertisements, leading to the conviction of all involved.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual legal judgment without overt ideological slant. It reports on the judicial outcome of a corruption case involving local officials and a private entity, focusing on procedural violations and legal standards rather than taking a partisan stance. The framing remains cent,

Why factuality (95): The article provides specific details about the Supreme Court's decision, including names of individuals involved, legal provisions cited, and procedural failures. These facts align with what would be expected from a reputable news outlet covering a judicial ruling. There is no clear contradiction w

Why objectivity (90): The article presents the information in a neutral manner, reporting the court's decision without apparent bias or emotional language. It avoids taking sides or offering commentary, focusing instead on the legal outcome and procedural violations.

Philippine Daily Inquirer logoPhilippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 809/8/2026
Jojo Ang’s 4 out of 14 graft cases consolidated in Sandiganbayan

Representative Jojo Ang of the Uswag Ilonggo party-list appeared before the Sandiganbayan Second Division on August 3, 2026, regarding four of his 14 graft-related charges under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. His legal team confirmed that four cases, two from the Fourth Division and two from the Second Division, were consolidated into the Second Division. The consolidation was approved by the Fourth Division, but the records had not yet been transferred. Ang pleaded not guilty during his arraignment and faced a rescheduled pretrial on September 15. Prosecutors allege he had a financial interest in a construction firm that secured P214 million in public works contracts while serving as a party-list representative.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual developments related to a political figure facing graft charges without overtly endorsing or criticizing any side. It reports on procedural updates and legal actions without taking a clear ideological stance, maintaining neutrality in its framing.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the consolidation of four out of 14 graft cases against Rep. Jojo Ang in the Sandiganbayan Second Division. It cites legal counsel Luis Veracruz and provides details about the procedural steps taken by the court, including the rescheduling of pretrial due to consolidat

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, focusing on the legal proceedings and quoting statements from legal representatives. There is no overt bias or emotional language, though some phrases like 'allegedly' indicate the tentative nature of the accusations.

Philippine Daily Inquirer logoPhilippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 80Objective 859/8/2026
Ex-BFP chief pleads not guilty to graft over alleged P10-M bribe

Former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez pleaded not guilty to charges of graft and indirect bribery related to a P10.752 million bribe allegedly received in connection with the procurement of 132 ambulances valued at P485 million in 2025. Prosecutors claim Fernandez and Rosaverna Sangga accepted the bribe in two separate transactions: P10.752 million on November 21, 2024, and P4 million on September 25, 2025. The case is being handled by the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division, which read the formal charge to Fernandez during a court session. He responded with a plea of 'not guilty,' and the court scheduled the pretrial for September 29. Fernandez did not provide a statement to reporters.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and allegations against former BFP chief Jesus Fernandez in a factual manner, without overtly favoring either side. It reports on the charges, the timeline of the alleged bribes, and the court's procedural actions without expressing opinion or emotional sl抗

Why factuality (80): The article accurately reports that former BFP chief Jesus Fernandez pleaded not guilty to graft charges related to a P10.752 million bribe. It includes specific dates and amounts, and references the court's handling of the case. The facts are presented consistently with the previous article on the

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting the facts without emotional language or clear bias. It focuses on the legal process and quotes the court's actions without injecting personal opinion.

GMA News Online logoGMA News OnlineIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 859/8/2026
Ex-BFP chief Jesus Fernandez pleads not guilty to graft

Former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez pleaded not guilty to charges of graft during a court proceeding. The case against him involves allegations of corruption related to his tenure in office. The plea was part of legal proceedings where he faced accusations of misconduct. No specific details were provided regarding the nature of the alleged graft or the evidence presented. The case highlights ongoing issues of corruption within government agencies.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a legal proceeding involving a former government official accused of graft. It presents the fact that the individual pleaded not guilty without expressing judgment or taking a clear ideological stance. There is no evident slant toward either political side, and the framing is,

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (85): The tone remains objective, detailing the legal outcome and citing the court's reasoning without expressing personal views. While there is some emphasis on the severity of the convictions, it is framed within the context of legal precedent.

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