Legazpi City — Albay Governor Edcel “Grex” Lagman denied the bribery case filed against him by a confessed Jueteng operator during the press conference held on Thursday, February 14, at the Governor’s guest house in Legazpi City.
Alwin Nimo, a confessed Jueteng operator and a former barangay chairman of Anislag in the municipality of Daraga, accused Governor Lagman of receiving bribes from Jueteng figures for almost three years, from August 2019 to June 2022, with a total amount of P8 million during Lagman’s term as vice governor in Albay.
Lagman, in response to the accusations, said that he didn’t receive a single centavo from Nimo and asserted that all the accusations against him were baseless.
He added that it is against the Data Privacy Act for anyone to claim someone’s account number or deposit slips.
“It’s unlikely that anyone in their right mind would give their account number to anyone, especially for a private bank account. But as they say, for people with bad intentions, if there’s a will, there’s a way,” Lagman stated, challenging Nimo to prove his accusations with actual facts and physical evidence.
Lagman stated that former Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara introduced Nimo to him on social gatherings.
“Hindi ko po sinasabi na may kinalaman po ang dati nating gobernador sa jueteng, yung lang sinasabi ko ang pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, isang dating kapitan,” Lagman said.
A lash on political motives
Furthermore, Lagman expressed skepticism about the timing of the accusations, suggesting a potential political motive to divert attention away from broader issues.
Lagman said that there is an ongoing investigation for the malfeasance in Albay.
“Ilang linggo na po inimbestigahan ang mga politiko dito sa Albay patungkol sa maling paggamit ng pondo—pondo po an amount that is far beyond the threshold of 50 billion pesos para sa impending na pandarambong,” Lagman said.
Raising further questions about the timing, Lagman wondered why these allegations are only rising now, suggesting a concerted effort to discredit him, especially in light of his potential gubernatorial candidate in 2025.
“They want to divert attention from the Senate and shift the focus to your governor, that’s just how simple it is,” Lagman claimed.
He assumed that there were “Draculas” behind these allegations who joined forces to drag down the Lagmans which, according to him, started when his father, Congressman Edcel Lagman bared the irregularities in the People’s Initiative signature campaign.
“This is their grand plan in Albay: to wipe out, remove, and erase the names of Lagmans in serving the Albayanos,” he said.
Lagman stays unbothered
Lagman emphasized that he is not afraid and is instead ready to confront the accusations head on, with no questions asked.
“Hindi po ako natatakot kahit onti sa lahat ng mga paratang laban sa akin dahil alam ko po they are all pure lies, politically motivated para tanggalin po ang pamilya, ang tatak Lagman dito sa Albay,” Lagman said.
Regarding the hypothetical preventive suspension, Lagman stressed that he is ready for such a scenario, as is his preparedness to confront any legal repercussions resulting from the case filing—they are willing to comply and adhere to whatever the law requires of them.
When asked if the operation of the administration could affect his work, Lagman firmly shared, “The case has zero effect on my administration and my work; we will not let ourselves be affected by such baseless cases”. I Alliah Jane Babila, Kimberly Palenzuela, Kian Kirby Florano