By Benjamin Cuaresma
MAGALANG, Pampanga — Magalang Mayor Malu Lacson and 10 other individuals are facing complaints for alleged graft and corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of authority and unexplained wealth over the operation of a steel company in Barangay Navaling.
The United Pilipinos Against Crime and Corruption (UPACC), headed by Pyra Lucas, filed the complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday in connection with the alleged illegal operation of Chuangxing Steel Corp.
The company was raided by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission in July over allegations that it was manufacturing substandard construction materials.
Also named as respondents were municipal administrator Norman Lacson, environment and natural resources officer Pablo Elmer Mercado, Councilor Ruben Miranda, Barangay Navaling chairman Juanito Napom, and private individuals Jose Tiburcio Canlas, Inold Cruz, Rizalino Ocampo, Jesus Nathaniell Pili, Eduardo Torno and Odilon Lacson, the mayor’s husband.
Lucas said the complaints also stemmed from concerns raised by workers of the steel company, who allegedly sought the group’s assistance over claims of maltreatment and violations of their labor rights.
According to UPACC, the workers were hired through Kingsmen Manpower Agency, which it alleged was partly owned by Lacson and lacked the required permit to hire and deploy workers.
The group also urged the Ombudsman to investigate the alleged reclassification of the property occupied by Chuangxing Steel and examine other allegations raised against the respondents.
Lacson, however, denied the conflict-of-interest allegation.
She said she and her husband had already divested their interests in the manpower agency before she assumed office as mayor in May 2022.
Lacson also said she had yet to receive copies of the complaints and would respond to the accusations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum.
The allegations against Lacson and the other respondents remain subject to investigation and due process.
ia/xf
