MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted 11 individuals for graft and malversation of public funds in connection with an alleged fraudulent garbage collection scheme in Cebu City that resulted in the loss of P239,728,280.62.

In a resolution dated February 4, 2025, those charged were identified as Floro Qimque Cases Jr., John Jigo Gaston Dacua, Grace M. Luardo-Silva, Allem Omlero Ceballos, Romelito Asinjo Datan, Mark Abarquez Ugbinar, Jerome Visarra Ornopea, Mare Vae Fernandez Reyes, Jayra Angelic Maninog Ruiz-Javier, John David Sevilles Javier, and Erika May S. Quino.

The indictment, which stemmed from a National Bureau of Investigation–Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO) probe, involves one count each of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation.

In a separate March 14, 2025 resolution, the same individuals were found administratively liable for gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service. They face dismissal from their posts, cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from public office, and a ban on taking civil service examinations.

The NBI-CEVRO investigation was prompted by a complaint from the then-Cebu City vice mayor over a garbage collection contract between the city government and the joint venture DOCAST Construction and JJ\&J Construction and General Supply (DOCAST/JJ\&J). The ₱1,800-per-ton deal covered January 29 to July 19, 2021.

Investigators found that DOCAST/JJ\&J subcontracted ARN Central Waste Management, Inc. for dumpsite use at ₱600 per ton, with city- and barangay-owned trucks allowed to deliver garbage directly to the ARN facility. However, DOCAST/JJ\&J allegedly failed to reflect these government-delivered loads in its billings, implying that it collected and delivered all waste itself.

The company also allegedly did not pay ARN for its services, prompting ARN to ban it from its dumpsite on July 8, 2021. Despite the ban, DOCAST/JJ\&J reportedly continued to bill the city for unrendered services using falsified documents.

The Ombudsman said the officials’ alleged negligence in processing these payments contributed to the loss of public funds.

NBI Director Santiago commended NBI-CEVRO agents for their “relentless efforts” in investigating the case, which he said were instrumental in the Ombudsman’s indictment.