BACOLOD CITY: The councilor of La Castellana in Negros Occidental who was linked to an alleged police recruitment scam that victimized 47 aspiring police officers was expelled from the municipal council, Mayor Alme Rhumyla Mangilimutan said on Monday.

Mangilimutan said the expulsion of Councilor Donato Dumaguit from the Sangguniang Bayan was decided by the seven members of the council due to the 14 absences he had incurred in their sessions.

The expulsion was concurred by the Provincial Legal Office based on the recommendation and decision of the Sangguniang Bayan, Mangilimutan said.

Dumaguit was replaced by Kent Magnabe, a nurse by profession and ranked 9th among the candidates for councilor of La Castellana during the 2022 elections.

Magnabe, accompanied by Mangilimutan, took his oath of office before Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday.

Mangilimutan clarified that the expulsion of Dumaguit has nothing to do with the cases filed against him before the court but due to the absences he had incurred as a member of the municipal council.

She said Dumaguit's absences also affected the functions of the committees to which he was assigned.

The mayor also said she is confident Magnabe will be an effective, committed and efficient member of the Sangguniang Bayan.

Magnabe, who is a member of United Negros Alliance (Unega), said he was elated by his appointment as he also thanked the mayor for her recommendation as Dumaguit's replacement.

He assured La Castellana residents that he will "do his utmost best in serving them."

Dozens of victims have implicated Dumaguit in a scam that promised individuals an entry into the police force for a fee. The victims allegedly paid amounts ranging from P247,000 to P300,000 each.

Dumaguit denied the allegations.