Ombudsman clears Santa Maria, Laguna mayor in poll-related raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Sunday said it dismissed all administrative charges against a Santa Maria town mayor which stemmed from alleged lapses in securing ballot boxes from the 2022 elections.

Santa Maria Mayor Ma. Rocelle “Cindy” Carolino was cleared of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and serious dishonesty.

On the other hand, the Ombudsman meted a one-month suspension to Municipal Treasurer Ma. Theresa Lagonoy Lontok, which is just a minimum penalty owing to the official’s “unblemished” record as a civil servant for three decades.

Article continues after this advertisement

These stemmed from a complaint filed on March 4, 2025, by Laguna Rep. Maria Jamina Katherine Baltazar Agarao.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Agarao alleged that Carolino and Lontok conspired to tamper with ballots during the 2022 elections.

“Albeit the ballot boxes were placed inside the Municipal Hall of Santa Maria where she (Carolino) was the Mayor and the protestant is her husband, there was no evidence showing that she committed any acts in connection with the subject ballot boxes or circumstances showing that she conspired with Lontok save for the bare assumptions of complainant,” the Ombudsman ruling read.

The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal inspection records showed that several ballot boxes retrieved from Santa Maria lacked proper plastic and metal security seals or were secured only with packaging tape.

The decrypted ballot images confirmed Agarao’s election victory.

Article continues after this advertisement

But still, the physical ballots from 16 clustered precincts were deemed to have doubtful integrity due to compromised seals and physical anomalies.

Lontok’s admissions established that unauthorized individuals had “a reasonable opportunity to access the storage area,” which the Ombudsman said showed her failure to fulfill her duty to safeguard the ballot boxes.

Article continues after this advertisement

That being said, the anti-graft body found no evidence that the treasurer intentionally tampered with the ballots or acted with corruption or bad faith.

For “simple neglect of duty,” the Ombudsman meted the minimum penalty of suspension from office without pay for one month and one day against Lontok.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

“The Ombudsman considered as mitigating circumstances her 30 years of unblemished public service, previous awards, and the fact that this was her first administrative offense,” the anti-graft body said in a statement. /cb