Ombudsman urged to probe Lagman, daughter for possible plunder
A private complainant on Tuesday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Albay Representative-elect Edcel Lagman and his daughter for a possible plunder offense in connection with the alleged misallocation of his pork barrel fund amounting to more than P200 million during his previous term as a lawmaker.
In a supplemental affidavit, Hernando Bruce, a bishop of Jesus Miracle Crusade, said that aside from a possible graft offense, Lagman and his daughter, former Tabaco, Albay Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro, must also be investigated by the Ombudsman for plunder.
"That upon review of the applicable laws and jurisprudence, the acts in the original complaint would also qualify for the crime of Plunder under RA 7080 (Anti-Plunder Law)," Bruce said in his affidavit.
In a supplemental affidavit, Hernando Bruce, a bishop of Jesus Miracle Crusade, said that aside from a possible graft offense, Lagman and his daughter, former Tabaco, Albay Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro, must also be investigated by the Ombudsman for plunder.
"That upon review of the applicable laws and jurisprudence, the acts in the original complaint would also qualify for the crime of Plunder under RA 7080 (Anti-Plunder Law)," Bruce said in his affidavit.
In April of this year, Bruce and Roberto Barcela, chairman of Barangay Bonga in Bacacay, Albay, filed against Lagman and his daughter a complaint of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over Lagman's alleged misuse of around P200-million worth of his pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund during his term as the congressman of Albay from 2007 to 2009.
In his supplemental affidavit, however, Bruce said that based on a Commission on Audit (COA) report, the total amount of Lagman’s PDAF that was supposedly misallocated was P240 covering the period of 2007 to 2010.
Bruce said the amount of ill-gotten wealth that Lagman and his daughter have amassed from the alleged illegal PDAF transactions was more than P50 million, the threshold amount for a crime to be considered as plunder.
“That as a consequence thereof, I am therefore charging the respondents Rep. Edcel Lagman in cahoots with his daughter Krisel Lagman-Luistro for the crime of Plunder which they committed during his term as Congressman for the First District of Albay covering the period 2007-2010,” Bruce’s supplemental affidavit read.
In his supplemental affidavit, however, Bruce said that based on a Commission on Audit (COA) report, the total amount of Lagman’s PDAF that was supposedly misallocated was P240 covering the period of 2007 to 2010.
Bruce said the amount of ill-gotten wealth that Lagman and his daughter have amassed from the alleged illegal PDAF transactions was more than P50 million, the threshold amount for a crime to be considered as plunder.
“That as a consequence thereof, I am therefore charging the respondents Rep. Edcel Lagman in cahoots with his daughter Krisel Lagman-Luistro for the crime of Plunder which they committed during his term as Congressman for the First District of Albay covering the period 2007-2010,” Bruce’s supplemental affidavit read.
Lifestyle check sought
Bruce also called on the Ombudsman to conduct a lifestyle check on the Lagman father and daughter in connection with their suspected illegally acquired properties named under their alleged dummies and close relatives and friends.
Bruce specifically asked the Ombudsman to investigate the true ownership of the following properties:
*Patio De San Jose, a hotel in Malilipot Albay worth around P500 million named under alleged dummy Rose Bombales, a contractor in Bicol who recently passed away
*Gravel and Sand Rock Crusher Plant located in Sto. Domingo, Albay, worth P300 million allegedly named under another supposed unidentified dummy
*Ten-hectare mansion property in Brgy. Sogod, Bacacay, Albay, worth P50 million
*Heavy equipment garage in Barangay 14 in Bacacay town under the name of De San Jose Builders Inc. owned by Bombales.
Based on the original complaint, Lagman had diverted P86 million of his PDAF for various projects outside his legislative district such as in Quezon City, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.
Bruce and Barcela said among these supposed anomalous projects were the construction and repairs of some establishments located in private properties in Quezon City, most notable of which is a clubhouse supposedly located in a private subdivision.
The complainants further alleged that Lagman extended loans from his PDAF to two private organizations, namely the San Carlos Agro-Industrial Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SACAMCO) and Bacolod-Tayhi Homeworks Association, Inc. amounting to P1.5 million and P134,000, respectively.
The complainants said based on the COA report released in 2012, the loan grants were not supported with any project proposal, request from beneficiaries and evaluation report on the need to grant assistance.
Lagman also allegedly extended scholarship grants from his PDAF to certain students without proof or documents showing that they were enrolled in any educational institution.
The complainants said Lagman also gave financial assistance totaling P1.262 million to various individuals, municipalities and barangays, also without the required request for assistance from the beneficiaries as well as project proposals.
Lastly, the complainants alleged that Lagman also charged from his PDAF a total of P129.719 million for the procurement of various items including furniture, medals and tokens for various projects and sports events in Tabaco City wherein his daughter Lagman-Luistro was then the sitting mayor.
Bruce also called on the Ombudsman to conduct a lifestyle check on the Lagman father and daughter in connection with their suspected illegally acquired properties named under their alleged dummies and close relatives and friends.
Bruce specifically asked the Ombudsman to investigate the true ownership of the following properties:
*Patio De San Jose, a hotel in Malilipot Albay worth around P500 million named under alleged dummy Rose Bombales, a contractor in Bicol who recently passed away
*Gravel and Sand Rock Crusher Plant located in Sto. Domingo, Albay, worth P300 million allegedly named under another supposed unidentified dummy
*Ten-hectare mansion property in Brgy. Sogod, Bacacay, Albay, worth P50 million
*Heavy equipment garage in Barangay 14 in Bacacay town under the name of De San Jose Builders Inc. owned by Bombales.
Based on the original complaint, Lagman had diverted P86 million of his PDAF for various projects outside his legislative district such as in Quezon City, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.
Bruce and Barcela said among these supposed anomalous projects were the construction and repairs of some establishments located in private properties in Quezon City, most notable of which is a clubhouse supposedly located in a private subdivision.
The complainants further alleged that Lagman extended loans from his PDAF to two private organizations, namely the San Carlos Agro-Industrial Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SACAMCO) and Bacolod-Tayhi Homeworks Association, Inc. amounting to P1.5 million and P134,000, respectively.
The complainants said based on the COA report released in 2012, the loan grants were not supported with any project proposal, request from beneficiaries and evaluation report on the need to grant assistance.
Lagman also allegedly extended scholarship grants from his PDAF to certain students without proof or documents showing that they were enrolled in any educational institution.
The complainants said Lagman also gave financial assistance totaling P1.262 million to various individuals, municipalities and barangays, also without the required request for assistance from the beneficiaries as well as project proposals.
Lastly, the complainants alleged that Lagman also charged from his PDAF a total of P129.719 million for the procurement of various items including furniture, medals and tokens for various projects and sports events in Tabaco City wherein his daughter Lagman-Luistro was then the sitting mayor.
"Politically motivated"
In a phone interview with reporters, Lagman described both the original complaint and the supplemental complaint as "completely fabricated" and "politically-motivated."
Lagman said all his PDAF from 2007 to 2010 went to projects for the First District of Albay.
"I have not committed any PDAF diversion. All of my PDAF allocations went to programs and projects to First District of Albay," Lagman said, adding that his projects outside Albay were funded by his leadership funds at that time, which was separate from his PDAF.
"Leadership fund was before allocated to ranking officials of Congress like the [House] Speaker, Deputy Speaker, then chairmen of major committees. I was the chairman of the Appropriations, Ways and Means [committee] and majority floor leader of that time," he said.
“This leadership fund was for nationwide utilization. There’s nothing wrong about it. It’s completely legitimate and it’s appropriated under the General Appropriations Act,” he added.
Lagman also denied owning hotel, mansion and other properties named under alleged dummies.
“I have filed my [statement of] assets, liabilities and net worth regularly and I have no hidden property. l don’t have any hotel or mansion. That’s completely uncalled for, completely fabricated,” Lagman said.
Lagman was re-elected as the representative of the First District of Albay during the May 9, 2016 elections.
In a phone interview with reporters, Lagman described both the original complaint and the supplemental complaint as "completely fabricated" and "politically-motivated."
Lagman said all his PDAF from 2007 to 2010 went to projects for the First District of Albay.
"I have not committed any PDAF diversion. All of my PDAF allocations went to programs and projects to First District of Albay," Lagman said, adding that his projects outside Albay were funded by his leadership funds at that time, which was separate from his PDAF.
"Leadership fund was before allocated to ranking officials of Congress like the [House] Speaker, Deputy Speaker, then chairmen of major committees. I was the chairman of the Appropriations, Ways and Means [committee] and majority floor leader of that time," he said.
“This leadership fund was for nationwide utilization. There’s nothing wrong about it. It’s completely legitimate and it’s appropriated under the General Appropriations Act,” he added.
Lagman also denied owning hotel, mansion and other properties named under alleged dummies.
“I have filed my [statement of] assets, liabilities and net worth regularly and I have no hidden property. l don’t have any hotel or mansion. That’s completely uncalled for, completely fabricated,” Lagman said.
Lagman was re-elected as the representative of the First District of Albay during the May 9, 2016 elections.
Source: gmanetwork
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Ombudsman urged to probe Lagman, daughter for possible plunder
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