FINDING guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and simple misconduct in the issuance of 205 quarry permits from 2014 to 2016 without the required Environmental Compliance Certificate, Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali has been suspended for one year without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman.
In a 29-page decision, which was released to journalists only on August 15, 2025, the anti-graft office said Umali’s one-year suspension without pay is in line with Section 25(2) of Republic Act 6770, the OMB Act of 1989, and Section 10(b), Rule III of Administrative Order No. 7 on the Rules of Procedure of the OMB.
Meanwhile, the administrative complaint filed against Umali’s wife, former Nueva Ecija governor Czarina Umali, was dismissed for lack of evidence.
The administrative charges were filed by one Roberto Duldulao who said that 205 Commercial Sand and Gravel Permits were issued to unqualified groups without the required ECC from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
The Ombudsman cited a report of the House committee on good government and public accountability, which conducted hearings on quarry operations in Nueva Ecija.
The ruling said Umali merely required the applicants to submit a local environmental clearance certificate in securing a quarry permit instead of the required ECC.
While Umali’s issuance of quarry permits was not motivated by financial or illegal considerations, the Ombudsman said the governor’s act “still constitutes offenses of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and simple misconduct.”
“There is a basis to hold Aurelio Umali administratively liable. He was remiss in his duty to ensure the enforcement and compliance with all laws, rules and regulations within his jurisdiction,” it said.
While Umali’s act of issuing the CSGPs from 2014 to 2016 was neither motivated by a premeditated, obstinate, or intentional purpose, his acts still sufficiently constitute the offenses of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and simple misconduct, the Ombudsman said.
“He was remiss in his duty to ensure the enforcement and compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations within his jurisdiction,” it added.
The decision was signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Leilani Tagulao-Marquez and recommended for approval by Assistant Ombudsman Pilarita Lapitan.
It was approved by then Ombudsman Samuel Martires through Deputy Ombudsman Dante Vargas.
