Albay Governor Grex Lagman has been officially dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman after being found guilty of grave misconduct in connection with alleged payola dealings with jueteng operators. The ruling stemmed from accusations that Lagman sought bribes in exchange for political protection of illegal gambling activities in the province.
According to the Ombudsman’s decision, the incident allegedly took place in 2019. “Respondent asked that, in exchange for protection, he would receive his regular payola and that the complainant would act as his conduit or ‘bag man,’” the document stated. The protection supposedly included assurances that Lagman and fellow members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan would not use their investigative authority to interfere with jueteng operations in Albay.
While the Ombudsman found enough evidence to convict Lagman of grave misconduct, it dismissed other charges of dishonesty and neglect of duty due to insufficient evidence.
In the meantime, a temporary leadership arrangement will be put in place in Albay while awaiting further action from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the President.
The decision has sent shockwaves across local political circles, raising concerns about the continued influence of illegal gambling networks on local governance. The DILG is expected to supervise the transition to ensure uninterrupted public service delivery in the province.
The development comes on the heels of another high-profile case involving Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who was placed under a six-month preventive suspension by the Ombudsman. Garcia is facing multiple administrative complaints, including grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross negligence, and violations of Republic Act 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The twin cases highlight the intensified anti-corruption efforts being undertaken by the Ombudsman as it cracks down on unethical behavior among public officials. While both Lagman and Garcia have yet to issue comprehensive public statements, their respective cases are likely to spark debates on accountability, political patronage, and the integrity of local government institutions.
As of now, all eyes are on Malacañang and the DILG for the next course of action regarding Albay’s interim leadership and the broader implications of the Ombudsman’s rulings.
Where there is smoke, there is fire. Politics really is a big money making occupation. Even barangay level positions have violent killings for a paltey salary. Wonder why? Your guess is as good as mine.