‘NO MISSING FUNDS’: Mayor denies allegations of lost P63-M Dumangas port fund

By Francis Allan L. Angelo and Rjay Zuriaga Castor

(UPDATED) Mayor Braeden John “BJ” Biron denied allegations that over P63 million in income sharing between the local government and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) from the Dumangas port has gone missing during his administration.

“No funds have been lost. Under my leadership, the municipality strictly adheres to the principles of transparency and accountability,” Biron said in a statement on Friday, August 9.

The mayor added that the local government’s financial records are open for public review.

Biron explained that the share between the PPA and Dumangas is outlined in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which is currently pending with the PPA for signing and implementation.

He emphasized that the Sangguniang Bayan had passed a resolution authorizing him to sign the MOA, but the document remains unsigned.

Biron pointed out that, according to Commission on Audit rules and regulations, a government agency can only release funds if there is a legal basis.

Since the MOA has not yet been signed, the mayor highlighted that there is no basis for the 35/65 percent income sharing from the Dumangas port.

He also confirmed that the PPA’s 35 percent share, estimated to be less than P63 million, will be released by the local government once the MOA is finalized.

Biron urged the public to be cautious of misinformation and disinformation, particularly with the 2025 midterm elections approaching.

“With elections approaching, some may attempt to tarnish their political opponents’ reputations without basis,” he said, reiterating his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.

Biron’s statement responded to claims by demoted police official Charlie Belonio Sustento Jr., who alleged that millions of pesos linked to the Dumangas port development had gone missing under the mayor’s administration.

Sustento recently resigned from the Philippine National Police after being demoted by the Court of Appeals following an administrative case filed against him for mauling an employee of a motorcycle dealership in Dumangas, Iloilo.

He was initially dismissed from service by the Ombudsman, but he appealed to the Court of Appeals, which upheld the Ombudsman’s decision. However, the court modified the punishment from dismissal to demotion from police major to police captain.

Sustento alleged that he has documents showing that over P63 million in PPA shares from 2022 to 2024 had not been turned over by the local government.

He also claimed that a PPA official told him they were threatened with being summoned to Congress and facing charges before the Ombudsman if they continued to investigate the missing funds.

Sustento is reportedly planning to run as a representative of Iloilo’s fourth district, the stronghold of the Biron family.

Fourth district Rep. Ferjenel “Dr. Ferj” Biron, Mayor BJ Biron’s father, earlier stated that he is considering running for reelection in the 2025 midterm elections. He is currently serving his first term.