The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor-Aurora has forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman a graft complaint against Aurora IPMR Provincial Board Member Randy O. Salo and his secretary, Ronalyn E. Pasigian, over an alleged violation of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
BALER, Aurora — The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor-Aurora has forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman a complaint against Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Randy O. Salo and his secretary, Ronalyn E. Pasigian, over an alleged violation of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The complaint stemmed from an alleged demand for a percentage in connection with a transaction involving transportation services used during the 2025 Indigenous Peoples Day celebration of the Provincial Government of Aurora.
The complaint documents were prepared and sent through JRS Express on Thursday, Sept. 24, to the Office of the Ombudsman for appropriate action. The submission was witnessed by complainant Sherwin Palines, a representative of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, and police personnel.
Salo and Pasigian had earlier undergone inquest proceedings on Sept. 19 after they were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the Baler Municipal Police Station on Sept. 18.
Police Maj. Donna Fe M. Galban, chief of the Baler MPS, said the operation stemmed from a complaint involving an alleged irregularity in the payment for transportation services used during the 2025 Indigenous Peoples Day celebration.
The operation was conducted at around 10:16 a.m. at Honesto Restaurant, also known as Ben’s Halo-Halo, at the corner of Quezon and Carrasco streets in Barangay 1, Baler.
Based on CCTV footage obtained from the establishment, police reportedly confirmed that Salo and Pasigian were the two individuals shown in the video. Pasigian was seen approaching two men seated at another table and receiving a large amount of money before returning to Salo’s table.
The footage also showed Pasigian counting the money while seated at Salo’s table. Moments later, they were approached by individuals who posed as customers but, according to police, were Baler MPS operatives conducting the entrapment operation.
Police recovered PHP260,000 in cash during the operation. The recovery of the money formed part of the complaint involving the alleged irregularity in the transportation transaction.
Also included in the allegations under investigation was an apparent discrepancy in the number of transportation units. According to reports, 64 vans were declared as transportation units at the Provincial Capitol, while only 11 vans were reportedly actually rented through a transport cooperative.
The discrepancy remains under investigation and is subject to verification through relevant documents.
The inquest proceedings for Salo and Pasigian continued until around 1 a.m. on Sept. 20 as prosecutors reviewed documents related to the transportation of Indigenous Peoples who attended the activity.
Some documents reportedly still needed to be verified against records in the custody of the Provincial Government of Aurora. The inquest proceedings were eventually terminated within the prescribed period to protect the respondents’ legal and constitutional rights while they were temporarily detained.
Salo and Pasigian were later released as the complaint proceeded through the next stage.
Meanwhile, Aurora Gov. Isidro “Sid” P. Galban said the provincial government does not tolerate corruption.
Galban said he does not allow the name or position of any official or employee of the Provincial Government of Aurora to be used to solicit money from contractors, suppliers or other individuals transacting with the government.
Salo and Pasigian earlier declined to comment, saying they would provide their explanation through their lawyer.
It was also reported that a vehicle with a red government license plate reportedly associated with Salo was confiscated by authorities in connection with the operation.
The complaint forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman remains subject to investigation and appropriate proceedings, while the respondents retain their right to due process and the presumption of innocence. (Jason de Asis)