SANTA CRUZ, Laguna — A graft and administrative complaint was lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday, September 28, targeting Laguna Governor Sol Aragones and five other individuals regarding the disbursement of ₱15,500 in financial assistance per student for board exam review courses.
The complaint, filed by Laguna Board Member Lorenzo Zuniga Jr., Karla Monica Adajar-Lajara, Princess Diane Lajara, and Christian Niño Lajara, accuses the officials of violating Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The suit further alleges grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, grave abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
According to the filing stamped received by the Ombudsman for Luzon, the provincial government distributed funds directly to recipients without undergoing standard public bidding and procurement protocols. The complainants asserted that the scheme proceeded despite constraints set by the Provincial Legal Services Office and conditional guidelines approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The document also claims that beneficiaries were asked to submit diplomas and certificates of indigency, which were allegedly found to be falsified. Student recipients were later asked to return the ₱15,500 payments, with officials stating the funds were meant to cover fees for a private review center.
The complainants pointed out that alternative review centers provided comparable services for roughly ₱6,000 per student.
Named co-respondents in the case are Provincial Budget Officer Jocelyn Jimenez-Litan, Provincial Accountant Joiphylen Bacanto, Provincial Treasurer Fely Cruz, Provincial Administrator Office official Carina Macalos, and Dr. Analiza Victoriano, president of the Professional Academic Review Center.
In a statement posted on her official social media page, Governor Aragones noted that her office has yet to receive a formal copy of the charge sheet and denounced its leak online.
“Mariing kinokondena ang ginawang pagpapakalat nito sa social media bago pa man natatanggap ng aming panig ang opisyal na kopya ng reklamo,” Aragones stated.
Characterizing the early publication of the document as political mudslinging aimed at damaging her reputation, the governor affirmed that her team would address the charges once officially served.
“Nais naming ipabatid na sa kasalukuyan ay hindi pa namin natatanggap ang opisyal na kopya ng nasabing reklamo. Hihintayin natin ang pormal na dokumento upang ito ay masusing mapag-aralan ng aming legal team,” she noted.
“Kailanman ay hindi natin isasakripisyo ang ating integridad at pananagutan sa pampublikong paglilingkod,” Aragones added.