Borbon VM cleared of grave misconduct raps

Local

THE Court of Appeals (CA) cleared Borbon Vice Mayor Noel Taylaran Dotillos of grave misconduct and overturned the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision that removed him from government service.

In its 11-page decision promulgated on Thursday, Feb. 12, the CA reversed and set aside the Ombudsman’s July 18, 2025 ruling in Case No. OMB-V-A-SEP-24-0163.

The Ombudsman had found Dotillos guilty of grave misconduct for releasing P570,000 in anniversary bonuses to municipal employees without proper appropriation and for hiring his wife, Dr. Corazon Dotillos, as Municipal Health Officer under a contract of service without Sangguniang Bayan approval.

The Court of Appeals ruled that Dotillos acted in good faith when he released the bonuses by relying on Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 75 and certified Obligation Requests signed by the heads of requesting offices.

The CA found that his actions did not show wrongful, malicious, or deliberate intent to violate the law.

The Independent Auditor’s Report for 2019 also showed no adverse findings or Notices of Disallowance related to the bonus disbursement.

On the hiring of Dr. Dotillos, the Court noted that the Sangguniang Bayan later ratified the contract through Resolution No. 186, effectively confirming Dotillos’ prior action.

The CA found no substantial evidence of corruption, willful intent, or disregard of established rules in the Vice Mayor’s decision.

Dotillos filed the petition for review after the Ombudsman failed to resolve his Motion for Reconsideration.

The Court emphasized that he acted within the prescribed periods, filing the petition promptly after withdrawing the unresolved motion, and affirmed its jurisdiction over the case.

After the ruling, Vice Mayor Dotillos thanked supporters on social media, saying, “You will always win when you move with genuine intentions! To God be the glory.”

Meanwhile, his son, Borbon Mayor Nico Dotillos, hailed the decision, saying, “Justice prevails” after months of legal and political challenges.

The ruling allows the patriarch to immediately return to the Vice Mayor’s office.

The original complaint came from Emar Bascon Cuico, who alleged that Dotillos released the 2019 bonuses without a proper appropriation ordinance and hired his wife without council approval.

While the Ombudsman dismissed complaints against other municipal officials for lack of evidence, it initially ordered Dotillos’ removal and accessory penalties, including cancellation of civil service eligibility, perpetual disqualification from public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and a bar from civil service exams.

CA also stressed that substantial evidence must show willful intent or corruption to constitute grave misconduct, adding that errors in judgment alone do not justify dismissal from public office.(MyTVCebu)