Cagayan Rep. Lara, family face Ombudsman plunder probe
MANILA — Cagayan Third District Rep. Joseph “Jojo” Lara and members of his family are facing an Ombudsman investigation for plunder over their alleged links to construction firms that purportedly received billions of pesos in government contracts.
Lara, who served as vice chairperson of the House appropriations committee in the 19th Congress, allegedly has links to Pulsar Construction Corporation, JDL5 Construction Corporation and JLL Pulsar Construction Corporation.
The Ombudsman said the alleged divestment of Lara’s interests in the construction firms may not have taken place, citing financial transactions that reportedly linked payments to the companies to his private bank account.
“It was supposed to be a divestment which we think did not really happen because the money paid to these construction companies still went to his private bank account, of amount of P1.9 billion,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a briefing on Friday.
“They will be undergoing PI (preliminary investigation) for plunder,” he added.
Lara is also facing a complaint for graft. The preliminary investigation includes his wife, Zarah Rose Lara; their children Joseph Joshua, Joseph Jeremy, Joseph Kyle and Joseph II; and their daughter-in-law, Jessa Lara.
In a statement on Saturday, the Ombudsman said Lara allegedly amassed approximately P10.02 billion in ill-gotten wealth in conspiracy with his family members while holding public office.
The Ombudsman said a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council showed that Lara received more than P1.9 billion from relatives, affiliated entities and offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) between 2019 and 2025.
The anti-graft body also found that the lawmaker received about P3.8 billion from the DPWH, affiliated construction firms and joint ventures tied to government infrastructure projects.
Lara and his wife allegedly acquired additional financial interests worth around P6.1 billion linked to DPWH infrastructure contracts.
The Ombudsman also noted that Lara and several of his relatives allegedly concealed their identities as beneficial owners of the construction firms.
Remulla said his office would continue reviewing financial transactions and corporate arrangements related to the case.
ABS-CBN News reached out to Lara for comment but had yet to receive a response as of publication.