Plunder raps filed vs Laguna governor, 21 others

MANILA, Philippines – An anti-crime group and a ranking provincial official filed on Tuesday a plunder complaint against Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro and 21 other officials for questionable transactions amounting millions of pesos. In a 29-page complaint lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and Laguna provincial treasurer Manuel Leycano Jr. accused Lazaro of “amassing, accumulating and acquiring ill-gotten wealth worth P50 million." The governor is also accused of “misappropriating, converting, misusing, or malversing public funds in the amount of P250 million" representing the proceeds of the bond floatation supposedly meant to finance two hospitals. GMANews.TV tried to contact Lazaro for comment, but her office didn’t answer the calls. In a VACC press statement, Leycano also listed supposed anomalous dealings with which Lazaro was involved. These include, among others: *The alleged illegal and fraudulent turn-over of the Cabuyao – Sta. Rosa – Biñan Waterworks System resulting in revenue losses of about P35 million; *The advanced deliveries of medicine and medical supplies amounting to P1.2 million; *The purchase of “grossly overpriced rice, canned goods and noodles" amounting to P160 milion; *The purchase of plastic bags supposedly overpriced at P1.8 million; *The documentation of more than P200,000 expenses for what were believed to be donated goods; *The purchase amounting to P88 million from stores owned by Lazaro for donations; and *The bulk purchase of supposedly overpriced vehicles worth P21 million. In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Jimenez said that Leycano approached them and informed them of Lazaro’s supposed questionable transactions. The VACC then helped Leycano build a case against the governor, Jimenez said. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV