Laguna Gov. Aragones faces fresh graft complaint over chemo center

Laguna Governor Sol Aragones. Photo from Aragones’ Facebook page 

MANILA — Laguna Governor Sol Aragones faced Tuesday a fresh graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman (OBM) over the alleged operation of a chemotherapy center without license at the provincial hospital. 

The complaint was filed by Jonel Osio, former supervising administrative officer of the Laguna Medical Center, and provincial board members Karla Adajar-Lajara and Lorenzo Zuñiga. 

Zuñiga noted that this was the fourth complaint they have filed against Aragones before the Ombudsman. 

“Ito ay may kaugnayan sa mga katiwalian sa aming kapitolyo. Certainly, this is not the last. Hindi po talaga namin ito gusto, ang aming panawagan sa paghingi ng panawagan at halos hindi naman napapakinggan kaya nandito po tayo para maghanap ng hustisya para sa mamamayan ng Laguna,” Zuñiga said. 

“Ito ay isang lease agreement with a private company…ang pagpapatuloy ng pag-operate bilang isang chemotherapy clinic nang walang lisensiya mula sa DOH na ito ay labag sa administrative order ng DOH 2022-012. Nagkaroon na po ito ng cease and desist order mula sa DOH pero patuloy niyang ina-announce sa publiko na merong libreng chemotherapy ang Laguna samantalang ang nagbabayad naman ay ang Philhealth,” he added. 

Aside from Aragones, other respondents included Dr. Jose Odilon Inoncillo, Dr. Hannah Alcala, and officials of a private medical group. 

Adajar-Lajara said they were only seeking to ensure that checks and balances in the provincial government were in place.  

“Sa usapin ng chemotherapy, nabigyan po ito ng awtoridad na pumasok sa memorandum of agreement, dapat po ito ay bumalik sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan kapag tapos na o naka-comply na sila sa kabuuan na pangangailangan o itinatakda ng batas – wala hong bumalik sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” Adajar-Lajara told reporters. 

“Mali na sabihin na ito’y libre, hindi ‘to libre. Ito ay pondo ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng Philhealth na binabayaran sa mga pribadong health provider,” she said.

Aragones said she had yet to receive an official copy of the complaint but noted that nearly the same group of complainants had filed successive cases against her.

“Sa ngayon ay wala pa po kaming natatanggap na kopya ng reklamo. Pero dahil halos pare-pareho ang complainant sa sunod-sunod na reklamo, halatang political harassment po ito,” Aragones said.

She added that she felt she had become a target of daily efforts to find fault with her administration.

“Ginawa na nila akong proyekto na araw-araw hinahanapan ng butas. Sa tamang panahon ay sasagutin po namin ito,” she said, adding that she was prepared to address the allegations through the proper channels.

Meanwhile, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Laguna Chapter expressed its continued support for Aragones despite the complaints.

Rizal Mayor Vener Muñoz, the chapter president, assured the governor of their continued backing.

“Kung anuman po ang mga tsismis-tsismis, andito po kami at nagkakaisa na sumuporta sa inyo,” Muñoz said.

Pila Mayor Queen Alarva urged the governor and her allies to focus on addressing the province’s problems rather than paying attention to critics.

“Focus lang tayo sa tunay na kalaban dahil kailangang mas maraming solusyonan. Kasama n’yo po kami anumang laban ang kakaharapin n’yo,” Alarva said.

“Naniniwala kami na ang mabuting adhikain kailanman ay hindi matatalo, 101 percent ang suporta,” she added.

Aragones, speaking before Laguna mayors who visited the provincial capitol to express their support for her administration, said she remained firm despite what she described as attempts to bring her down politically.

“Wala ho kayong dapat alalahanin. Matatag po ako at nananatili pa rin akong matatag habang may mga katulad n’yo na mga mayor na taong bayan na naniniwala pa rin sa kredibilidad ni Sol Aragones,” she said.

The governor said she would remain focused on the welfare of Laguna residents despite the continuing criticism and vowed to uphold her oath of office.

“Kahit kailan, hindi ko nanakawin ang pera ng taong bayan,” Aragones said.

Some members of the Muslim community across Laguna also expressed support for the provincial government under Aragones’ leadership.