Former Manila Assistant City Administrator Jocelyn Dawis-Asuncion is facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged misuse of more than ₱170 million from the city’s Special Education Fund (SEF).

According to RH Boy Gonzales, the complaint was filed by Acting City Accountant Jonathan Galorio, who claimed that Asuncion used the education fund to pay the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) premiums and loan amortizations of city employees — payments that were supposedly already being deducted automatically from their salaries.

Documents attached to the complaint showed that between July and October 2024, Asuncion allegedly sent several letters to the Land Bank of the Philippines authorizing the withdrawal of ₱170,105,961 from the SEF account.

Galorio asserted that the diversion of education funds to other purposes violates Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code (technical malversation), Section 22 of the GSIS Law, and Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

He stressed that the move deprived Manila’s public schools of funds intended for educational programs and facility improvements.

Galorio, in his complaint, emphasized that Asuncion’s actions amounted to a serious violation of her official duties and a betrayal of the trust placed in her by the public.