The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating Joseph 'Jojo' Lara, the Representative for Cagayan's 3rd District, along with some family members, in connection with alleged plunder charges involving multi-billion peso government contracts.
Lara, who previously served as vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations during the 19th Congress, is reportedly linked to the Pulsar Construction Corporation, JDL5 Construction Corporation, and JLL Pulsar Construction Corporation.
According to the Ombudsman, it appears that Lara may not have genuinely divested his interests from these construction companies, as funds paid to them have allegedly ended up in his personal bank account.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla indicated that Lara is facing a preliminary investigation regarding the plunder case, as well as another graft-related case. The investigation will also cover Lara's wife, Zarah Rose Lara, their children, and in-laws.
Previous statements from the Ombudsman suggested that Lara allegedly amassed approximately ₱10.02 billion in ill-gotten wealth while in public service, purportedly in collusion with family members.
Reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) revealed that Lara received over ₱1.9 billion from relatives, affiliated entities, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) between 2019 and 2025. The Ombudsman also noted that he received roughly ₱3.8 billion from the DPWH and associated construction firms for various infrastructure projects.
In addition, Lara and his spouse reportedly received an additional ₱6.1 billion in interests linked to DPWH infrastructure contracts. The investigation has also highlighted that Lara and some family members may have concealed their identities as the true owners of several construction companies.