I. Introduction: Corruption Allegations Target Sorsogon Administration
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is facing fresh legal scrutiny after a private lawyer filed criminal and graft complaints against him and several former provincial officials before the Office of the Ombudsman. The complaint accuses Escudero of orchestrating “systematic corruption” and gross financial irregularities totaling over PHP 352 million during his tenure as Governor of Sorsogon.
The case, filed on Friday, November 14, by Atty. Eldrige Marvin Aceron, relies heavily on the documented findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) in its 2021 report on the Sorsogon provincial government. This latest action follows a previous ethics complaint filed by Aceron against Escudero just a month prior concerning alleged illegal campaign donations.
II. The Respondents and Applicable Statutes
The complaint targets Senator Escudero and a number of provincial officials, alleging violations of several key anti-corruption and penal codes.
A. Named Officials and Statutory Violations
Key officials named as respondents include:
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero (Former Governor of Sorsogon)
Members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)
Acting Provincial Accountant Rena Garcia
Provincial General Services Officer Rosalina (Surname not indicated)
The unidentified Provincial Treasurer
The complaints cite possible violations of:
Republic Act No. 3019: The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
Revised Penal Code:
Article 220 (Technical Malversation)
Article 213 (Frauds Against Public Treasury)
Article 171 (Falsification of Public Documents)
B. The Financial Scope
The total amount of public funds allegedly subject to irregularity and potential malversation is cited as PHP 352,679,063.46.
III. Breakdown of the Alleged Irregularities (COA 2021 Report)
Atty. Aceron cited eight specific questionable transactions flagged by the COA’s 2021 report, which he argues represent deliberate acts of malfeasance, not mere accounting errors.
Alleged Irregularity
Amount (PHP)
Nature of Violation
Overlapping Infrastructure Contracts
P125,704,889.93
Awarded to the same contractors using identical personnel/equipment, leading to “physically impossible” project execution.
Unimplemented National Funds
P15,474,262.65
Funds, including P10M for typhoon relief, allegedly left unimplemented for up to six years.
Falsified Contracts
P8,440,701.12
Janitorial and laundry contracts supported by allegedly fabricated client references, conflicting notarizations, and falsified documents.
Defective TUPAD Disbursements
P1,655,400.00
Disbursements for the TUPAD program (emergency employment) marred by defective signatures, missing authorizations, and improper implementation by board members.
Misallocated Development Funds
P5,654,955.90
Development projects allegedly charged to the mandatory 20% Development Fund but not included in the approved procurement plan.
Unreliable Assets Account
P195,748,853.86
Property, Plant, and Equipment accounts purportedly included “ghost assets” and demolished structures still recorded in government books.
IV. The Accuser’s Statement: A Pattern of Malfeasance
In his statement distributed during the filing, Aceron delivered a sharp rebuke, asserting that the financial problems went beyond one isolated year, pointing to an alleged systemic pattern of abuse:
“These are not mere accounting errors. These are deliberate acts that robbed the children of Sorsogon of their future.”
Aceron further linked the alleged corruption to a time of national crisis: “While families struggled through the pandemic, public funds were diverted, mishandled, or left to rot in government accounts.” He also noted that the problem persists, citing the COA reports for 2022 and 2023, which continue to issue “qualified opinions” on the province’s financial statements, indicating ongoing concerns with financial reliability.
V. Response Status
As of the time of posting, reporters had reached out to Senator Escudero for comment regarding the serious allegations, but he has yet to issue a response.
The filing of these criminal and graft complaints elevates the allegations from a matter of political ethics to a serious legal challenge that the Ombudsman is now mandated to investigate, potentially leading to criminal prosecution and suspension of officials if probable cause is found.