A lawyer has filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against Sen. Francis Escudero and Sorsogon officials over the alleged misuse of P352 million in provincial funds in 2021, during Escudero's term as governor. The complaint draws from the Commission on Audit's 2021 report highlighting irregularities in infrastructure projects and procurement. Lawyer Eldridge Marvin Aceron urged an investigation for violations of anti-graft laws and other statutes.
On November 15, 2025, lawyer Eldridge Marvin Aceron filed a 51-page complaint with the Ombudsman against Sen. Francis Escudero, former Sorsogon governor, and officials including accountant Rena Garcia, general services officer Rosalina Hainto, an unnamed treasurer, Bids and Awards Committee members, and other accountable officers.
Aceron based the complaint on the Commission on Audit's (COA) 2021 Annual Audit Report for Sorsogon, documenting systematic irregularities totaling P352,679,063.46. These include 40 infrastructure projects worth P125.7 million awarded to the same contractors with identical personnel and equipment, making simultaneous implementation physically impossible.
Other issues: misappropriation of P15.47 million from the national government, including P10.17 million for typhoon relief undisbursed for six years; P8.44 million in janitorial and laundry service contracts with falsified documents; irregularities in the DOLE's TUPAD program worth P1.65 million due to defective signatures and missing authorizations; P5.65 million in development projects improperly charged to the 20% Development Fund; and P195.74 million in 'ghost assets' recorded in Property, Plant and Equipment accounts.
Aceron sought charges for violations of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), technical malversation under Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code, falsification under Article 171, and fraud against public treasury under Article 213, plus administrative offenses like grave misconduct and dishonesty. 'This complaint exposes systematic financial irregularities and potential malversation amounting to P352,679,063.46,' Aceron stated in the complaint.