Albay governor sacked over jueteng

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed from office Albay Gov. Grex Lagman for allegedly accepting P8.1 million in exchange for allowing the operation of the illegal numbers game jueteng.

A copy of the decision was served on Lagman on April 24, the ombudsman said.

The Albay public information office confirmed Lagman’s dismissal. It said Vice Gov. Baby Glenda Bongao took her oath as governor on Monday.

The STAR has yet to obtain a copy of the decision, whose dispositive portion reportedly stated that the ombudsman found sufficient evidence to hold Lagman liable for grave misconduct.

The ombudsman said the affidavits of the complainant and witnesses contained full details and were corroborated by supporting documents showing that Lagman received protection money from jueteng operators when he was vice governor.

The charges against Lagman stemmed from a complaint filed in February last year by Alwin Nimo, former chief of Barangay Anislag in Daraga town.

Nimo claimed that he used to be Lagman’s “bagman” and had delivered protection money to the official supposedly from jueteng financiers.

He said Lagman demanded P60,000 per week in jueteng payola, which he personally delivered to the vice governor or to his driver in the parking lot of the Albay capitol.