FACT CHECK: Dead ex-mayor, non-legislator also in Duterte list
WRONG INFORMATION? Errors mar the list of President Rodrigo Duterte. File photo by Simeon Celi/PPD
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, August 7, identified public officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
But after careful checking and verification from various sources, it appears that the list of over 150 people from the judiciary, police, and local government contains some errors. (READ: The Duterte list: Judges, mayors, police officials linked to drugs)
Some of the names are misspelled or have incomplete details – putting at risk people who share their surnames. Some information also seems to be either outdated or incorrect.
Such is the case of a certain "ex-mayor Benahar Tulawie of Talipao, Sulu."
The name of the ex-mayor in the official transcript sent by Malacañang is different from the name that appears on various documents online.
For example, the ex-mayor’s name was spelled as “Benhajar Tulawie” both in an election monitor newsletter of the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) in 2011 and a resolution released by the regional assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2013.
A source close to Tulawie said that “Benhajar Tulawie” died in 2014.
A social media post by the Sulu Provincial Women Council in 2014 extending condolences to his family affirmed this information.
Never been a legislator
Also included in the list, based on the official transcript of Malacañang, is a certain “Congressman Partylist Jeffrey Celis, Panay Chapter.”
However, there is no “Jeffrey Celis” in the official roster of the House of Representatives found on its website, even in previous years.
Duterte, however, may be referring to "Jeffrey Celiz", former spokesperson of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who was himself also part of the list. Iloilo City, according to Duterte, is the most "shabulized" province in the Philippines. He coined the term to mean it has been heavily infected with shabu users.
Celiz was also never a legislator but served as chairman and spokesperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Panay, according to a 2004 Newsbreak piece, before he worked for Mabilog.
Wrong spelling, wrong info
Tulawie and Celiz are not the only ones on the list with wrong information.
Rappler double-checked the names indicated in the official transcript sent by Malacañang against other government documents and found that 14 were misspelled and 27 have inaccurate or incomplete positions and locations.
No other information on Yusofa Monder Bugong Ramin of Iligan City, Lanao del Norte is available as of posting.
Meanwhile, out of the total number of LGU officials mentioned, 31 are incumbent, elected officials.
Note: Text in bold reflects the correct spelling of the officials' names.
| Name Based on Official Transcript | Correct Name | Correct position and location? | Incumbent? |
| Reynaldo Flores Naguilian, La Union |
Reynaldo Flores | yes | yes |
| Dante Garcia Tubao, La Union |
Dante Garcia | yes | yes |
| Martin de Guzman Bauang, La Union |
Martin de Guzman | yes | yes |
| Marjorie Apel Salazar Lasam, Cagayan |
Marjorie Apil Salazar | yes | yes |
| Goto Violago San Rafael, Bulacan |
Cipriano "Goto" Violago, Jr. | yes | yes |
| Marino Morales Mabalacat, Pampanga |
Marino "Boking" Morales | yes | yes |
| Felix Castillo Langiden, Abra |
Felix Castillo | no indicated position - (a former mayor) | no |
| Ex-Mayor Eufronio Eriguel Agoo, La Union |
Eufranio Eriguel | yes | no |
| Jesus Celeste "Boying alias" Bolinao, Pangasinan |
Jesus Celeste | no indicated position - (a former mayor) | yes (as congressman) |
| Jose "Pepe" Miranda Santiago City, Isabela |
Jose "Pepe" Miranda | no indicated position - (a former mayor) | no |
| Vicente Amante San Pablo City, Laguna |
Vicente Amante | no indicated position - (a former mayor) | no |
| Ryan Dolor Bauan, Batangas |
Ryanh Dolor | no indicated position - (a former mayor) | no |
| Vice Mayor Edgardo Trinidad El Nido, Palawan |
Edgardo Trinidad | no - (a former vice mayor, not incumbent) | no |
| Alex Centena Calinog, Iloilo |
Alex Centena | yes | yes |
| Julius Ronald Pacificador Hamtic, Antique |
Julius Ronald Pacificador | yes | yes |
| "Jed Mabilog, I think he's the Mayor of Iloilo City" |
Jed Mabilog | yes | yes |
| Sigfredo Salangutin Betita Carles, Iloilo |
Siegfredo "Salagunting" Betita | yes | yes |
| Marciano Malones Maasin, Iloilo |
Mariano Malones | yes | yes |
| Michael Rama the former Mayor of Cebu City |
Michael Rama | yes | no |
| Hector Ong Laoang, Northern Samar |
Hector Ong | yes | yes |
| Rolando Espinosa [Albuera, Leyte] |
Rolando Espinosa | yes | yes |
| Beda Canamaque Basay, Negros Oriental |
Beda Cañamaque | yes | yes |
| Ex-Mayor Madeline Ong Laoang, Northern Samar |
Madeleine Mendoza-Ong | yes | no |
| Vice Mayor Francis Ansing Amboy Maasin, Iloilo |
Vice Mayor Francis Amboy | yes | yes |
| Fralz Sabalones San Fernando, Cebu |
Fralz Sabalones | no indicated position - (an incumbent vice mayor) |
yes |
| Attorney Antonio Pesina Iloilo City |
Antonio Pesina | no indicated position - (a former councilor) |
no |
| Erwin "Tongtong" Plagata Iloilo City |
Erwin Plagata | no indicated position - (a former councilor) |
no |
| Abubakar Abdulkarim Afdal Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur |
Abubakar Afdal | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Gamar Ahay Janihim Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte |
Gamar Ahay Janihim | yes | yes |
| David Navarro Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur |
David Navarro | wrong location (should be Clarin, Misamis Occidental) |
yes |
| Bobby Alingan Kolambugan, Davao del Norte |
Malik "Bobby" Alingan | wrong location (should be Pantar, Lanao del Norte) |
no |
| Yusofa Monder Bugong Ramin Iligan City, Lanao del Norte |
(no info) | (no info) | (no info) |
| Jessie Aguilera Alegria, Surigao del Norte |
Jesie Aguilera | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Fahad Salic Marawi City |
Fahad Salic | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Mohammad Ali Abenal [Marantao, Lanao del Sur] |
Mohammadali Abinal | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Jamal Dadayan Buadiposo-Buntong, Lanao del Sur |
Camalodin "Jamal" Dadayan | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Sabdullah Macabago [Saguiaran], Lanao del Sur |
Sabdullah Macabago | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Muslim Aline Macadatu Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur |
Muslimen Alimbaracat Macadato | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Rasul Sangki Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao |
Rasul Sangki | wrong location (should be Ampatuan, Maguindanao) |
yes |
| Montaser Sabal Talitay, Maguindanao |
Montasir Sabal | yes | yes |
| Vicman Montawal Datu Montawal, Maguindanao |
Vicman Montawal | yes | yes |
| Samsudin Dimaukom Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao |
Samsudin Dimaukom | yes | yes |
| Norodin Salasal Datu Salibo, Maguindanao. |
Norodin Salasal | yes | yes |
| Ex-mayor: Benahar Tulawie † Talipao, Sulu |
Benhajar Tulawie | yes | no |
| Reynaldo Parojinog alias Andong, the Mayor of Ozamiz City |
Reynaldo "Aldong" Parojinog | yes | yes |
| Nova Princess Parojinog Echavez [Ozamiz City] |
Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez | no indicated position - (an incumbent vice mayor) |
yes |
| Omar Solitario Ali Marawi City |
Omar Solitario Ali | yes | yes |
| Abdul Wahab Sabal Vice Mayor ito, Talitay, Maguindanao |
Abdulwahab Sabal | yes | yes |
| Otto Montawal Datu Montawal, Maguindanao |
Ohto Montawal | no indicated position - (an incumbent vice mayor) |
yes |
| Nida Dimagkon Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao |
Nida Dimaukom | no indicated position - (an incumbent vice mayor) |
yes |
| Arafat Salic Marawi City |
Arafat Salic | no indicated position - (an incumbent vice mayor) |
yes |
| Rasmiyah Macabago Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur |
Rasmia Macabago | no indicated position - (a former mayor) |
no |
| Ex-Congressman JC Rahman Nava Guimaras |
Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava | yes | no |
| Congressman Partylist Jeffrey Celis Panay chapter |
Jeffrey Celiz | not a congressman (former spokesman of Mayor Jed Mabilog) | no |
| Congressman Guillermo Romarate Jr. 2nd District, Surigao del Norte |
Guillermo Romarate Jr | no (a former congressman) | no |
| Former 2nd District Board Member Ricardo Parojinog Ardot |
Ricardo "Ardot" Parojinog | yes | no |
Raw information?
Despite Duterte’s assurances that the list had been revalidated when he read the names past midnight on Sunday, August 5, the errors and incomplete information indicate the need for more thorough checking.
As previously reported, a judge included in the list has been dead for 8 years, while a Davao region cop has been dead for 6 years.
The President said he would take responsibility for any mistake in his list.
"Any mistake of the military and the police dito (here), ako yung tagasalo (I will take responsibility). I ordered the listing, revalidation, I am the one reading it and I am the sole person responsible for the same," he said. – with research by Michael Bueza/Rappler.com
Do you have information to correct or add to what's on the Duterte list? Rappler is crowdsourcing information on the individuals on Duterte's list. Comment below or email investigative@rappler.com for confidential information. Or simply tag @rapplerdotcom on Twitter.
