CHR chair faces graft complaint over alleged corruption in allowance

CHAIR. Commission on Human Rights Chair Richard Palpal-latoc attends the House quad committee investigating extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, at the House of Representatives, on September 12, 2024.

HOR Quad Comm

The NBI claims CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc allegedly still received allowances for a trip already funded by a foreign sponsor

AT A GLANCE

• CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc and three others face a graft complaint filed by the NBI over alleged corruption related to a foreign-funded training program.
• The complaint alleges violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, claiming Palpal-latoc improperly claimed allowance even though this was already covered by the sponsor.
• The NBI's investigation revealed issues with documentation and approvals related to the disbursement voucher, implicating all four individuals in misconduct.

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MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc and three other individuals are facing a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged corruption involving a month-long training.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed the complaint on Friday, October 9, for alleged violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Other respondents are as follows:

• Onesimo Cuyco
• Maria Teresa Dolor
• Russel Mani

“Respectfully transmitting for Preliminary Investigation are the results of the investigation conducted by this Bureau’s Public Corruption Division as represented by xxxx,” said the NBI’s transmission document to the Ombudsman.

Rappler has already reached out to CHR for a statement. We will update this story once they respond.

According to the NBI, Palpal-latoc attended the 54th International Institute for Human Rights Summer School in 2025. It was a month-long training with the airfare, accommodation, meals, and subsistence fully funded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).

The CHR chairperson, however, allegedly still claimed daily subsistence allowance and representation for the period of the training.

The NBI argued that Executive Order No. 77, series of 2019 prohibits claims for public officials if the travel is covered by the sponsor. It added that Section 16(b) “specifically disallows representation expenses for officials attending trainings or travelling on donor-funded trips.”

In addition, the disbursement voucher also allegedly concealed the funding arrangement and did not contain a disclosure of the foreign donor.

“Despite missing mandatory documents, the mismatched program documentation, the prohibited claims, and the undisclosed sponsorship, the voucher passed through every control point. Mani certified the supporting documents as complete. Dolor certified that funds were available. Cuyco approved the voucher for payment,” said the NBI.

“Taken together, these acts establish liability of Palpal-latoc, Cuyco, Dolor, and Mani for violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 and for Gross Misconduct:
Public officers acting in their official functions: the Chairperson as claimant, and the certifying and approving officers in processing the voucher.
Manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence: a claim for expenses already paid by a sponsor, a concealed donor, and certifications issued over facially defective documents,” the NBI added.

In 2022, Marcos appointed Palpal-latoc, a former Malacañang deputy executive secretary for legal affairs, as CHR chairperson.

Palpal-latoc has experience in anti-corruption prosecution. He served assistant prosecutor at the Quezon City prosecutor’s office. He had also served in various positions in the Office of the Ombudsman and in the Department of Social Welfare field office in Calabarzon, including as graft investigation and prosecution officer under the Ombudsman. – Rappler.com