Bulacan dad faces rap for making son attend training in his place

MANILA, Philippines—The Presidential Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) is hot on the trail of a Bulacan city councilor who allegedly faked his attendance at a local legislation training program.

On Monday, Oct. 14, the PACC said Councilor Richard Robes, of San Jose del Monte City face a dishonesty or misconduct charge.

Manuelito Luna, PACC commissioner, said Robes failed to attend the introduction to Excellence in Local Legislation (iExcell) training program from Aug. 5-9. His son attended in his place, Luna said.

The Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) earlier decided to withhold the certificate of completion given to Robes.

“On the last day of the course, it came to our attention that someone who identified himself as Councilor Robes, but was not Councilor Robes, was attending in his stead,” said CLRG Director Dr. Erwin Alampay in his letter to the mayor.

“We were able to establish that the person who claimed to be Councilor Robes was actually his son, Barangay Kagawad Richard Maurice Robes III,” Alampay added.

Luna said the CLRG, under the UP Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance, should also file a case.

Alampay said it was clear in the course requirements and the course briefing that “no substitute is allowed” during the program.

The University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) said that the iExcelL training was part of the course Fundamentals of Good Local Governance, which was designed for local legislators forming city and municipal councils.

Robes could not be reached for a comment./TSB