BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Former Toboso, Negros Occidental vice mayor Jesse Rex Bartolome was arrested on Sept. 16. He has been charged with malversation of public funds or property, presumption of malversation, and malversation through falsification of public document.
Also arrested – and facing the same charges – were Nathalie Dawn Hiponia, Roy Mariquit and Stephanie Carol Dumdum.
The arrest warrants against the four were issued by San Carlos City Regional Trial Court Judge Reginald Fuentebella, with bail recommended at P72,000.
Bartolome eventually posted bail for the charges, while Hiponia, Mariquit and Dumdum were still detained at the Toboso Municipal Police Station as of this writing.
Toboso municipal police officer-in-charge, Police Major Jun Ray Batadlan, said the charges were in connection with job order employees that allegedly did not receive salaries.
Batadlan added the charges were filed by a private citizen.
Bartolome, Hiponia, Mariquit and Dumdum could not be reached for comment as of this writing./PN
