Cuartero ex-mayor, councilor file perjury complaints against Capiz governor’s accuser
By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Former Cuartero Mayor Tito Mayo and incumbent municipal Councilor Eileen Palmes have filed complaints alleging multiple counts of perjury against Fernando Garcia Jr., a former provincial Capitol employee who previously filed complaints against Capiz Gov. Fredenil Oto Castro and four other officials.
Garcia earlier filed administrative complaints against Castro, Vice Gov. Jaime Magbanua and three other officials over the hiring of 14 private lawyers as legal consultants.
The perjury complaints stem from a complaint-affidavit Garcia executed before the Roxas City Prosecutor’s Office in December 2025, linking Mayo and Palmes to alleged irregularities in a provincial government transaction.
Mayo and Palmes strongly denied the allegations and cited Garcia’s statements as the basis for their perjury complaints.
Under Philippine law, perjury involves knowingly making false statements under oath about a material matter before an authorized person in circumstances covered by law.
Meanwhile, two separate cases alleging violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against former provincial board member Thea Faith Reyes and two of her staff members have reportedly been submitted for resolution following the completion of an Ombudsman fact-finding investigation last month.
Garcia filed the complaint alleging that Reyes hired a “ghost employee,” identified as Jasmen Alejandro.
He alleged that Alejandro received only PHP 2,000 to PHP 3,000 of her salary, with the remainder going to Reyes.
In her counteraffidavit, Reyes said Garcia recommended Alejandro in June 2019.
Alejandro was hired as a job order worker in July 2019, after Reyes was elected to the provincial board, according to the counteraffidavit.
Garcia previously worked at the Capiz Sangguniang Panlalawigan under Reyes’ office.
Reyes alleged that Garcia filed the complaint after she refused to help him in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities in the release of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation aid in 2023.
AICS is a Department of Social Welfare and Development program that provides temporary support to individuals and families in crisis, including medical, burial, food, transportation and educational assistance.
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