Santa Maria treasurer penalized for unsecured 2022 poll ballots

The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended Santa Maria municipal treasurer Maria Theresa Lagonoy Lontok for one month and one day without pay after finding her administratively liable for security lapses involving ballot boxes during the 2022 elections.

In a 17-page decision, the Ombudsman ruled that Lontok failed to exercise due diligence in safeguarding unopened ballot boxes entrusted to her custody.

The administrative complaint was initiated by former 4th District Rep. Maria Jamina Katherine Baltazar Agarao, who alleged that Lontok conspired with Santa Maria Mayor Maria Rocelle Valdecantos Carolino to commit grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and serious dishonesty through ballot tampering.

The controversy stemmed from an election protest filed before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) by former Laguna mayoral candidate Antonio Carolino.

The tribunal’s inspection revealed that several ballot boxes lacked mandatory plastic and metal security seals, prompting the HRET to rule that the ballots lacked integrity. Agarao was subsequently declared the winner of the congressional contest.