Ex-Borbon health officer defends self from graft charges

Local

A DUTY to serve the people.

Dr. Corazon Dotillos, husband of Borbon, Cebu Vice Mayor Noel Dotillos, cited this as the reason why she continued serving as a consultant even after her mandatory retirement as municipal health officer (MHO).

Dotillos broke her silence after she and her husband were indicted for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The charges stemmed from her continued hiring as a municipal consultant after her mandatory retirement as MHO.

Commenting on a Facebook post by her son, Borbon Mayor Nico Dotillos, Dr. Dotillos admitted she should have retired from service, but when the town was hit by Covid-19 pandemic, she felt it was her duty to continue serving the people.

Dr. Dotillos said the Civil Service Commission (CSC) granted her request to continue working only as a job order.

“But it was the mandate of the Civil Service that I will still assume as an MHO since it’s a pandemic and my services are in dire need for the health of the community,” Corazon explained.

She said during the pandemic, they treated over 100 patients daily, provided medicines and food to the affected families, and achieved a high vaccination rate among children, senior citizens, and the general population.

In the course of her service, she said she was among the 50% of the personnel in the Rural Health Unit (RHU) who contracted Covid-19 and was hospitalized for 15 days.

“So have I gained financially? While we were supposed to be recognized for our valiant effort, instead I’ve been abused psychologically and emotionally?” she lamented.

Corazon admitted feeling disappointed over the allegations hurled against her and her husband.

“Are these breeds of people worth dying for? Makamahay sad, but I know God is wide awake, and He is fair and just,” she added.

The town mayor also defended his parents following the Ombudsman’s order, saying he could not just stay silent considering that his parents sacrificed during the pandemic.

He emphasized that his mother was not after the money.

“The truth is, she earned very little compared to what many doctors could have earned elsewhere. In fact, she often spent more than she received. When Covid eventually struck her, the medical expenses and personal sacrifices far exceeded any compensation she ever got,” the mayor said.

As both of his parents face charges, the mayor said their family respects the legal process and trusts that the truth will prevail.

Vice Mayor Noel was the mayor of Borbon when his wife was hired as a municipal consultant.

In the complaint, it was alleged that when Corazon’s contract of service expired, she entered into another contract of service with the local government unit (LGU).

The Ombudsman said Dr. Dotillos was continuously hired under a contract of service at least five times over the period of three years from October 2022 to April 2025.

Evidence showed that the LGU did not hire an MHO during the said period, and Dr. Corazon, despite being a consultant, performed the duties of an MHO.

“This continuous rehiring of Dr. Dotillos not only has given unwarranted benefits to Dr. Dotillos through her salaries but to respondent himself, being Dr. Dotillos husband. Thus, the respondent could be criminally responsible as many times as he signed the Contract of Service.” the Ombudsman said.(MyTVCebu)