Vice Governor Baby Glenda Ong-Bongao has taken on the role of acting governor of Albay following a six-month preventive suspension imposed on Gov. Edcel Greco Alexandre Lagman by the Office of the Ombudsman due to allegations of jueteng payola bribery.
Bongao received the suspension order on October 21, 2024, and promptly informed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of her new responsibilities.
The Ombudsman’s ruling specifies that Lagman is suspended without pay until the case’s resolution, and Bongao will assume the governor’s duties, except for certain powers related to employee management, which she can exercise if the incapacity lasts more than 30 working days.
Lagman has denied the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and asserting that he has never accepted illegal payments.
He expressed intentions to challenge the suspension legally while acknowledging Bongao’s assumption of duties during this period.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 22, 2024
