Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan acquitted former Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Jose Mari Go Pelaez of graft charges over alleged misuse of government funds in assigning employees to work on his private properties.</p><p>In a decision promulgated on Friday, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez, cleared Pelaez of graft, saying the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.</p><p>Prosecutors alleged that Pelaez directed three casual employees of the provincial government to work at private properties he and his family owned in Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro from 2013 to 2015.</p><p>It further claimed this resulted in an &quot;undue injury&quot; amounting to P260,000 in salaries paid to the employees.</p><p>As a result of his acquittal, the court ordered the lifting of the hold-departure order issued against Pelaez, who served as vice governor from 2013 to 2019. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/05/09/19/ex-misamis-oriental-governor-arrested-for-graft-malversation">Ex-Misamis Oriental governor arrested for graft, malversation</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ee9SOq7fj5k?si=qyksXJHpxFP29jOJ" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division cleared former Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Jose Mari Go Pelaez of graft, saying the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.</p>

The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division cleared former Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Jose Mari Go Pelaez of graft, saying the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Court acquits ex-Misamis Oriental exec accused of making staff work in family properties

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Court acquits ex-Misamis Oriental exec accused of making staff work in family properties

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 30, 2026 03:22 PM PHT

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Sandiganbayan

Pelaez

Misamis Oriental

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