Bacolod Mayor Benitez cleared of corruption in ₱4.4B land deal probe
The Ombudsman Visayas has cleared Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and other officials of corruption allegations. The decision, announced on 14 April 2026, dismissed both administrative and criminal complaints filed over a controversial land purchase. The case centred on a 74-hectare acquisition in Barangay Granada, funded by a multi-billion-peso loan. The complaints originated on 13 March 2025, when Roger Ledesma accused Benitez and city officials of illegal land transactions and conflict of interest. Ledesma claimed violations of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), grave misconduct, and breaches of Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct for Public Officials). The allegations focused on the city’s purchase of 74 hectares in Barangay Granada under its land banking programme.
The Ombudsman conducted an investigation but found insufficient evidence to support the accusations. As a result, all charges were dropped on 14 April 2026. Following the dismissal, Benitez announced he would not pursue countercharges against Ledesma. The land deal in question was financed through a ₱4.4 billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines. The city had acquired the property as part of its long-term land banking strategy.
With the Ombudsman’s ruling, the legal dispute over the land acquisition has ended. The city retains ownership of the 74-hectare site in Barangay Granada, secured through the ₱4.4 billion loan. No further legal action is expected from either party.
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