Albay Governor Edcel Greco “Grex” Lagman has once again left office following a decision by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found him guilty of grave misconduct for allegedly accepting protection money from operators of jueteng, a banned numbers game in the Philippines.

The decision, dated January 28, 2025, and made public only recently, concluded that Lagman received around PHP8 million from jueteng financiers between August 2019 and June 2022. The funds were purportedly in exchange for shielding the illegal gambling operations during his tenure, first as vice governor and later as governor.

This dismissal comes on the heels of a previous six-month preventive suspension imposed on Lagman in October 2024. He had just resumed his post on April 21, only to be forced to vacate it again days later, on April 24, when he received the Ombudsman’s ruling.

Findings and Evidence Backing the Dismissal

The Ombudsman’s investigation heavily relied on statements from self-confessed jueteng financier coordinator Alwin Nimo and his associates, as well as 60 bank deposit slips. These documents, deemed admissible despite the bank secrecy law, were used to support allegations that Lagman had benefited from illegal gambling proceeds.

According to the ruling, Nimo initially operated as a “bangkero,” or financier, and delivered payola directly to Lagman or through his driver. The payments, which reportedly began in 2019, were said to have continued on a weekly basis, with PHP60,000 handed over from November 2020 to January 2021.

“This Office finds that respondent had been animated by a corrupt motive to benefit from illegal gambling. His corrupt actions were willful and done with discernment,” the Ombudsman stated in the 15-page resolution, as quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

While the misconduct charge was upheld, allegations of dishonesty and neglect of duty were dismissed due to lack of adequate proof. The decision cited no compelling evidence of deceit or intentional negligence in connection with Lagman’s alleged receipt of illegal funds.

Lagman Denies Allegations, Plans Legal Challenge

In response to the dismissal, Lagman firmly denied the accusations, maintaining that he never accepted jueteng payola during his time in public office. He asserted that he had consistently opposed illegal gambling activities.

“I stand by my record that I did not accept any payola from jueteng while I served as vice governor from 2019 to 2022,” Lagman said in a statement. “From the very start of my term as governor on 1 December 2022, I made it clear that I was against jueteng. Because of this firm and clear position, no one dared to offer me any form of payola.”

The embattled governor emphasized his respect for legal institutions, voluntarily stepping down to avoid disrupting provincial governance. He said he immediately notified the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region V, as the agency had not yet received an official copy of the Ombudsman’s decision.

Lagman’s legal counsel is now preparing to appeal the ruling. In previous statements, he characterized the case as politically motivated and part of a campaign to tarnish his reputation ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for May.

Suspicious Retractions and Broader Implications

During the course of the investigation, both Nimo and two alleged bagmen—Jeff Mangalinao and Dexter Maceda—attempted to retract their earlier testimonies. However, the Ombudsman rejected these retractions, labeling them “highly suspicious.”

Mangalinao, said to be an associate of Nimo, and Maceda, identified as his cousin, claimed they were unaware of what they had signed. Nimo cited anxiety over the case as the reason for his reversal. Despite this, the Ombudsman affirmed the probative value of their original affidavits, along with the corroborating deposit slips.

Additionally, Lagman reportedly did not contest the existence of the bank transactions in question, instead invoking the bank secrecy law to challenge the admissibility of the documents.

Context of the Complaint

The original complaint, filed by Nimo in February 2024, traced the beginning of the payola scheme to 2019, when Lagman was vice governor and presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Nimo alleged that Lagman requested to be linked with jueteng financiers and orchestrated regular payouts in exchange for political protection.

The two men allegedly had a falling out when Lagman became governor in 2022, reportedly due to disputes over the division of the illegal proceeds. Nimo claimed Lagman accused him of misappropriating his share, prompting the complaint.

Widening Concern Over Illegal Gambling Ties

This case has renewed focus on the pervasive reach of jueteng in Philippine politics. Though outlawed, the numbers game continues to thrive in parts of the country, often protected by informal arrangements involving local officials.

Lagman’s dismissal has added a high-profile name to the list of public servants entangled in illegal gambling controversies, further stoking calls for reform and tighter enforcement against corruption and illicit gambling in local governance.