By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — A group of 15 mayors from Surigao del Sur has issued a public declaration of support for 1st District Rep. Romeo S. Momo Sr., who is facing plunder and graft complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by two lawyers and six priests from the Diocese of Tandag.
In a statement released through the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Surigao del Sur Chapter, the mayors cited what they described as the tangible results of Momo’s leadership, including the completion of roads and bridges and a “zero-billing” medical policy.
They said these programs have benefited residents across the province’s municipalities and argued that the congressman has consistently protected public welfare.
“Development speaks louder than words,” the statement read, adding that the mayors were defending what they called the truth against what they characterized as misguided attacks on the lawmaker.
Surigao del Sur, part of the Caraga Region, is composed of two cities—Bislig and Tandag—and 17 municipalities. Two other municipal mayors, Madrid Mayor Juan Paolo Lopez and Cantilan Mayor Rodrigo Eleazar did not sign the statement.
The public show of support came amid ongoing proceedings at the Ombudsman, where Rep. Momo is facing allegations involving the misuse of public funds and violations of anti-graft laws. The Ombudsman has not yet ruled on the complaints, and the congressman has not been formally indicted as of this writing.
One of the complainants, lawyer Mary Helen Zafra, issued a written response emphasizing that political endorsements have no bearing on legal proceedings. She stressed that the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, the audit authority of the Commission on Audit (COA), and the application of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act are not affected by collective statements of support.
“Public office is a public trust,” Zafra said, adding that government projects and medical programs are funded by public money and remain subject to procurement rules, audits, and post-transaction reviews. She argued that claims of performance or allegations of political motivation do not constitute legal defenses and do not negate the need to establish probable cause based on evidence.
Zafra also raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest, alleging that some local officials may have links to construction firms engaged in government projects within their own jurisdictions—matters she said fall squarely under the review of the Ombudsman and COA.
She maintained that evidence, not public sentiment or political alignment, will ultimately determine the outcome of the cases.
Former Cantilan mayor Carla Lopez Pichay, who ran unsuccessfully against former governor Alexander Pimentel in the 2025 congressional race in the province’s second district, also criticized the mayors’ statement.
In a separate commentary posted in her social media page, Pichay described the declaration as a political act that, in her view, prioritizes alignment with power over accountability.
She questioned why local officials chose to issue a collective defense instead of calling for transparency and allowing institutions to independently evaluate the allegations.
Pichay also noted the political context surrounding the issue, pointing out that Rep. Momo is allied with Rep. Alexander Pimentel and Gov. Johnny Pimentel. .
The Office of the Ombudsman has yet to issue a public statement on the merits of the case or on any timetable for its resolution.
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