• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Former La Castellana municipal government employee Elvin dela Fuente, whose filed complaints for alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices, as well as grave misconduct, against then Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, which were dismissed by the Ombudsman because of lack of substantial evidence and lack of probable cause, is now facing cyber libel charges in court.
Mangilimutan, currently the vice mayor of La Castellana, said she is expecting the resolution and issuance of arrest warrant for numerous complaints she had filed against dela Fuente, who challenged her in the vice-mayoral race during the May 12 elections this year.
The charges are on top of four other cyber libel complaints filed against dela Fuente by her staff, Mangilimutan further said.
In August 2024, dela Fuente accused Mangilimutan, then mayor of La Castellana, allegedly for placing her household employees under the payroll of the municipal government, which she strongly denied.
In a joint resolution dated July 3, 2025, the Ombudsman ruled that there was no probable cause to indict Nicor-Mangilimutan for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, and found no substantial evidence to hold her administratively liable for grave misconduct.
In dismissing the administrative case, the Ombudsman said there was no evidence of corruption, intent to violate the law, or flagrant disregard of rules that would constitute grave misconduct.
The criminal case was dismissed for lack of probable cause.
With the dismissal of complaints against her, Mangilimutan said she is now consulting with her lawyer on filing more complaints against dela Fuente.
She added that she knows who is behind and is coddling dela Fuente, who used to be an employee of the La Castellana municipal government.*
