A CRIMINAL complaint was filed yesterday with the Office of the Ombudsman against incumbent Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Alexandre Lagman alleging that he received at least P8 million from “jueteng” operators in the province over a 34-month period when he was still vice governor.
Complainant Alwin Nimo, a self-confessed jueteng bagman and former barangay chairman from Daraga, Albay, said he was the one who linked Lagman to gambling lords and initially acted as the conduit to deliver P60,000 weekly payola to the respondent.
He said he filed the complaint after receiving word that Lagman had denied accepting any cash delivery which puts him at risk of being targeted by jueteng operators.
Reached for comment, Lagman dismissed the allegations as mere fabrications by political opponents.
“All the allegations in the complaint are false and are driven by political motives. I have never received any jueteng payola,” he said in a statement.
The governor voiced suspicion that the complaint is connected to the Senate investigation into elected officials in Albay.
“My conscience is clear about the issues raised against me and I will forthwith answer the same as soon as I get a copy of the complaint,” he added.
Nimo, in his 35-page complaint-affidavit, said he became close to Lagman because they were fraternity brothers, aside from the fact that Barangay Anislag had the biggest number of voters in Daraga.
He alleged that it was Lagman, as then vice governor, who asked to be introduced to alleged jueteng operator Jojo Bernardo.
He claimed he initially delivered money to Lagman. After three months, he said the job of delivering money then went to one Jeff Mangalinao, and later on to Dexter Maceda, who he said is his cousin.
Maceda executed an affidavit attesting that he made 60 weekly deposits to the governor’s personal bank account at the Banco de Oro branch in Timog Street in Quezon City supposedly at Lagman’s request to “avoid visibility.”
Copies of BDO transaction slips were attached to Maceda’s affidavit submitted to the Ombudsman.
By his calculations, Nimo said the governor received around P8.1 million between August 2019 to June 2022.
Nimo sought indictment of Lagman for direct bribery, violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 9287 recommending heavier penalties for gambling, and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Citing “imminent danger” to his life, Nimo also asked to be admitted as a state witness under the government’s Witness Protection Program.
Nimo said his relationship with Lagman soured shortly after the May 2022 elections because of the new governor-elect Noel Rosal.
However, Rosal was disqualified for improper campaign spending and was succeeded by Lagman, who was reelected vice governor during the polls.
The complainant said he had previously exposed the details of his allegations against Lagman to local media in Albay in February 2023 hoping to divert the ire of gambling lords.
“I have been forced to take great precautions for my personal safety and those of my family members. I have been moving around from one place to another, afraid that I will be a target of retribution from the jueteng operators,” Nimo said.
