Ombudsman files graft case vs. Grijaldo, cop for using juniors as construction workers

Ombudsman prosecutors have filed a graft case against Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo, Jr., and another police official for allegedly using his subordinates as construction workers to build a private building on government property, it was learned on Thursday.

Government prosecutors said Grijaldo, then the Officer-in-Charge/Force Commander of Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, and Police Master Sergeant Jesus Batobalonos, conspired and conferderated with each other in “taking advantage of their official positions and committing the offense in relation to their office, acting with evident bad faith, manifest partiality or at the very least gross inexcusable negligence, willfully, unlawfully and criminally utilize the subordinate police officers under their supervision as construction workers for the construction of a private structure/building located at Sitio Cantipla Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City.”

The incident, the prosecution said, happened at the height of the pandemic from August 2019 to April 2020.

Likewise, the prosecutors alleged that the said building built by police officers is “beneficially owned” by Grijaldo, resulting in damage and undue injury to the government amounting to at least P9.43 million.

“This is to certify that a preliminary investigation has been conducted in this case; that on the basis of the sworn statements and other evidence presented, there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that the crime charged has been committed; and that the accused are probably guilty thereof; and that the accused were informed of the complaint and of the evidence presented against them and were given the opportunity to submit controverting evidence,” the criminal information filed by the Ombudsman against Grijaldo and Batobalonos on August 2025 read.

During the graft case hearing on Thursday, February 12, Grijaldo personally appeared before the anti-graft court.

The prosecution, for its part, presented Police Major General Domingo Say Cabillan as its witness.

Grijaldo’s counsel quizzed Cabillan if he personally heard Grijaldo make the supposed orders to build a building to his subordinates, to which Cabillan responded no.

Cabillan, however, qualified his answer by saying that the information about the police officials being involved in the construction of the building was relayed to him by police officials who served as construction workers.

"The police officers should not be there [doing construction work],"

This information, Cabillan said, prompted him to order an informal inspection.

Asked by Grijaldo’s lawyers if this ever progressed to a formal inspection, Cabillan said no.

Drug war links

Back in October 2024, Grijaldo was thrust into national spotlight after he accused the House Quad Comm of forcing him to confirm the existence of a reward system for police officials during the former President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s war on drugs, as testified by former police colonel Royina Garma. 

Garma's camp, however, denied Grijaldo's allegations. 

“As the witnesses present during the events described by Mr. Grijaldo during the Senate inquiry held last October 28, 2024, we feel compelled to address the recent claims made regarding the supposed coercion and manipulation of testimony involving Colonel Garma's affidavit. The discussions were focused on ensuring clarity and understanding of Colonel Garma's affidavit, particularly regarding any knowledge Colonel Grijaldo might have about the reward system mentioned in it,” Garma's camp said in a statement then.

“At no point did any of the congressman attempted to pressure Mr. Grijaldo into conforming to a predetermined narrative,” her lawyers added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News