The Office of the Ombudsman has slapped 14 counts of graft against Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Representative James “Jojo” Ang Jr. before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged financial ties to a firm that bagged ₱214 million in government infrastructure projects.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed the filing on Saturday, July 25, pointing out that the lawmaker maintained a stake in a construction company while it secured and collected payments for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contracts during his term in Congress.
”While sitting in Congress, Rep. Ang holds a stake in a construction firm that won ₱214 million in DPWH contracts — and was paid nearly ₱199 million for them,” Clavano told reporters.
Under the Constitution, members of Congress are strictly prohibited from holding financial interests in any government contract during their tenure.
”Conflict of interest is not a gray area. It does not require proof that a deal was rigged or that cash changed hands — only that a public official profited, or stood to profit, from a government contract while in office,” Clavano emphasized. “Here, and in many cases, the clear and thick constitutional line is constantly and blatantly being crossed.”
The filing stems from a broader investigation into lawmakers involved in government contracting, which advanced to a preliminary investigation on July 18.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla previously warned public officials to choose between public service and private enterprise, stressing that the practice of combining politics with government business must stop.