Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Police colonel faces graft case for deploying 51 cops to construct building in Cebu

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — A police colonel is facing a graft case at the Sandiganbayan over allegedly ordering 51 police officers to work on the construction of a private building he reportedly owns in Cebu City.The prosecution alleged Police Col. Hector Udani Grijaldo Jr. took advantage of his position and acted “with evident bad faith” when he allegedly deployed police officers from Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7, to construct a private structure from August 2019 to April 2020.The building is allegedly located on public property in Sitio Cantipla in Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City.According to the criminal information filed on Aug. 29, 2025, the alleged act cost the government P9.4 million in salaries paid to the police officers and in Philippine National Police resources to transport them to the construction site.“Our client firmly and unequivocally denies the allegations, whether directly stated or implied. We believe that the proper place to determine the truth is in court, where evidence can be examined fairly and objectively,” read the statement of Go &amp; De Guzman Law Offices, legal counsel for Grijaldo. “We ask the public to allow the legal process to proceed without premature judgment,” it further stated.Grijaldo on Thursday personally attended the hearing at the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.During the hearing, prosecution witness Police MGen. Domingo Say Cabillan testified that he conducted an independent inspection of the area where the construction allegedly took place.Upon questioning by the defense, Cabillan said he did not personally hear any orders instructing police officers to take part in the construction.He told the court that he conducted an informal inspection after being informed by another police officer on the construction activities at the site.When asked to identify the informant, he said he could no longer recall who provided the information.Also charged in the case is Police SGM Jesus Pescante Batobalonos, battalion executive senior police officer.Both accused were earlier allowed to post bail amounting to P90,000.Grijaldo was earlier cited in contempt by the House of Representatives over repeated failure to show up before the QuadComm probe into extrajudicial killings during the Duterte Administration.

A police colonel is facing a graft charge before the Sandiganbayan over allegedly ordering 51 police officers to work on the construction of a private building he reportedly owns in Cebu City.

A police colonel is facing a graft charge before the Sandiganbayan over allegedly ordering 51 police officers to work on the construction of a private building he reportedly owns in Cebu City.

Police colonel faces graft case for allegedly deploying 51 cops to construct building in Cebu

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Police colonel faces graft case for allegedly deploying 51 cops to construct building in Cebu

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 12, 2026 04:43 PM PHT

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Updated February 13, 2026 07:40 PM PHT

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Sandiganbayan

Udani Grijaldo

Cebu

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