PLUNDER charges were filed yesterday before the Ombudsman against Laguna Gov. Teresita “Ningning” Lazaro, her son Dennis as the provincial administrator, and 20 other local officials and four private suppliers for allegedly more than P294 million in fraudulent purchases and embezzlement of almost P250 million.

The complaint, filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding chairman Dante Jimenez and chairman Lauro Vizconde, accused the Lazaros of amassing ill-gotten wealth “thereby enriching herself or themselves at the expense and to the damage of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines.”

As evidence of alleged ill-gotten wealth of Lazaro, complainants reported that Royal Star Marketing Inc., an appliance store said to be owned by her family, now has 30 branches in Southern Tagalog provinces—up 23 branches from only seven in 2000 when Lazaro became governor.

Other assets purportedly belonging to Laguna governor are the P350-million Sunstar Mall in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Royal Cable in Calamba; various subdivisions in different municipalities of Laguna; memorial parks; and a three-story residential building in Barangay Parian, Calamba City.

“In all these transactions, Governor Lazaro must be held accountable with the other respondents... for their connivance/conspiracy,” the complainants said.

Jimenez said Provincial Treasurer Manuel Leycano Jr. and lawyer Cayetano Santos sought the VACC’s help in building a case against the respondents over alleged questionable transactions amounting to P350 million.

The complainants said these transactions which were done beginning June 2000 up to the present violated the Government Auditing Code, Local Government Code, and the Government Procurement Act, the complainants said.

The complainants also accused the governor 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.

Among the allegations cited in the complaint was P37-million purchase of groceries for indigents which were allegedly overpriced.

“Rice purchased by Gov. Lazaro from Kerwin Tan Haw and Super Grow General Merchandise was grossly overpriced at P1,650 for 50-kg. bags and P825 for 25-kg bags considering that the then prevailing retail prices were at P1,250 and P625,” (respectively),” the complaint said.

Aside from the mother and child Lazaro, other respondents were: Legal Officer Antonio Relova; Budget Officer Marietta Jara; Accountant Evelyn Villanueva; Provincial Engineer Gilberto Mondez, also former Provincial Bidding and Awards Committee (PBAC) member; Project Engr. David Rubio; Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Ernesto Montecillo; former PBAC chairman Guillermo Trinidad; former PBAC members Engr. Pablo Del Mundo Jr., Valentin Guidote Jr., Gil Miranda, Marieta Jara, and Atty. Antonio Relova, now PBAC Chairman; members of the 2004 to 2007 Sangguniang Panlalawigan — Ramil Hernandez, Rolando Bagnes, Gabnulang Alatiit, Ramon Carrillo, Eufemio Lagumbay, Susano Tapia, Raul Marco Sison, Numeriano Buenviaje and Ariel Joseph Arcilla; four other private firms and several John Does. Macon Ramos Araneta