Candaba Mayor Rene Estacio Maglanque has been placed under a 90-day preventive suspension in connection with 194 criminal charges filed in 2017 over the alleged misuse of P900 million in Malampaya funds, the Sandiganbayan announced on January 22.
In a six-page resolution dated January 19, the court ordered Maglanque to cease from “further performing and/or exercising the functions, duties, and privileges of his position.”
The court’s Special Third Division based its ruling on Section 13 of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Rule 8, Section 4 of the Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan. Maglanque is then charged with 97 counts of malversation and 97 counts of graft.
Moreover, Maglanque was given a chance to explain why he should not be placed under suspension, but the mayor did not say any further.
Despite receipt of the order by Maglanque’s counsel, the Sandiganbayan noted that he failed to submit the required compliance, adding that his suspension will be automatically lifted after 90 days.
Records submitted to the court indicate that the mayor allegedly committed the crimes before assuming office, with the Malampaya fund intended for relief operations and rehabilitation in areas affected by typhoons from 2009 to 2010.
Maglanque’s co-accused include the late Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., former DBM Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, former Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, and other government officials. While private defendants include businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, her children Jo Christine and James Christopher, and several of her employees.
Most of the defendants, including Maglanque, were released on reduced bail and avoided detention.
Since he has not been convicted, Maglanque remains eligible to hold public office, including the position he was elected to in the 2025 National and Local elections (NLE).
Back in 2002, the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project began generating profits, which were remitted to the government to fund energy resource development and exploration programs.
Under Presidential Decree 910, signed in 1976, the President of the Philippines may also allocate the earnings for “other purposes,” including agricultural projects and disaster rehabilitation efforts.
In 2009, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration released P900 million from the Malampaya fund to assist survivors of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. The funds were later reportedly misused through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), some of which were linked to the Napoles scandal.
