By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The La Castellana Sangguniang Bayan (SB) has expelled the municipal councilor allegedly involved in the recruitment scam in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday, March 18.

La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the seven-member SB voted to expel Councilor Donato Dumaguit after failing to attend a total of 14 regular sessions.

The expulsion was then concurred by the Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office, based on the SB’s recommendation and decision.

Mangilimutan said Dumaguit’s expulsion is not connected to the charges he is currently facing over the alleged recruitment scam, but due to absences he incurred as a council member.

In November of last year, the SB slapped Dumaguit with a 15-day suspension and a P3,000 fine due to unexplained absences.

Dumaguit has not showed in the SB’s regular and special sessions after his name was implicated in the scam.

The councilor earlier claimed that he had uncovered an assassination plot against him, and that was the reason why he was hiding.

Dumaguit is now facing charges for large-scale estafa, alongside the alleged primary suspect, identified as Mary Jun delos Santos.

More than 40 individuals sought assistance from authorities after they paid significant amounts to secure positions within the PNP, PCG, as well as in the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Meanwhile, Kent Magnabe, who ranked ninth during the 2022 national and local elections, was sworn into office, replacing Dumaguit.

Magnabe took his oath of office before Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the provincial capitol in Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ