Albay Gov Lagman says he was suspended by Ombudsman

The Office of Ombudsman Samuel Martires has placed Albay Governor Edcel Grex Lagman under preventive suspension, the embattled local official announced Friday.

Lagman, in a statement posted on his social media page, said the suspension was not a surprise.

“Good morning, dear department heads, assistant department heads, heads of offices: The event I was expecting has come to pass. I have received my preventive suspension order from the Ombudsman today. Therefore, Vice Governor Glenda  [Ong-Bongao] has to assume as Acting Governor at the soonest possible time,” he said.

“All the good work that you have been doing will not be affected since my preventive suspension is personal to me. I will have a meeting with Vice Governor Glenda as soon as possible to make sure she is briefed accordingly,” he added.

GMA News Online reached out to the Ombudsman’s office for a copy of the suspension order on Lagman but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

Lagman, on the other hand, vowed to appeal his suspension, which he said is illegal, if not politically motivated.

“I will fight this legally flawed preventive suspension. As a lawyer, the same has absolutely no legal basis. Even freshman law students are in agreement. Rest assured that I will not be cowed into submission by the powers-that-be I think you know who these people are,” he said.

“Talagang “perfect timing” ang mga ganid. Ganyan talaga ang mga insecure at mga poderoso na ang tingin sa Albay ay “kaldero nila”; isang probinsiya na pagkakakitaan ng pera; at lahat ng Albayano pwede nilang bilhin. Kung pwede ‘to gawin sa isang gobernador, pwede nila gawin ito sa maliliit na tao. Ganyan sila kasama at kabalahura,” the local official added.

(These greedy people have perfect timing. That is how insecure and territorial people are, those who view Albay as their pot of gold, a province where they can make money, and thinking that they can buy off Albayanos. If they can do this to a governor, they can easily do this to ordinary people. That is how evil and disgusting they are.)

Lagman said that his suspension won’t deter his bid to pursue good governance.

“I will meet you all soon. We will have to sit down and execute our game plans. Nothing will change. We will all continue to strive for good governance,” he added.

GMA News Online also reached out to Lagman for further details on his suspension but he is yet to reply as of posting time.

Lagman is running for Albay governor for the 2025 polls, his first bid for the post

He was actually elected Albay vice governor in 2022, but he rose to the top elected post after the Commission on Elections disqualified then Albay governor Rosal due to violations of election rules on spending.—AOL, GMA Integrated News