Plunder and graft complaints have been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against several former officials of the Manila city government over the alleged misuse of more than P319 million in public funds under the KASAMA or Kalinga sa Manilenyo program.
RH Boy Gonzales reports that the criminal and administrative complaints were filed by Public Employment Service Office (PESO) acting manager John Hiroshi Umeda Jr., who accused former city officials of irregularities in the handling and disbursement of local government funds amounting to over P319 million.
Named as respondents were former secretary to the mayor Marlon Lacson, former PESO manager Fernan Bermejo, former Department of Public Service head Jonathan Garzo, former Liga ng mga Barangay president Leilani Lacuna, PESO staffer Angelica Thea Marie Filamor, and Michael “Nicole” Roldan, who was alleged to have been involved in the physical transport of cash.
The complaints were filed under the administration of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, who assumed office on June 30, 2025, and ordered a comprehensive review of PESO records following reports of missing documents and irregular fund releases.
According to the complaint, the alleged violations stemmed from the implementation of the KASAMA program, an employment initiative launched during the COVID-19 pandemic that was reportedly continued even after the pandemic.
The program allegedly involved large cash advances intended for the payment of beneficiaries’ wages.
The complaint stated that vouchers and checks amounting to at least P319 million were issued in the names of certain officials, encashed simultaneously, and disbursed without passing through standard payroll safeguards.
It further cited findings attributed to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), which allegedly showed that some beneficiaries received incomplete payments or were not paid at all, while their names were purportedly used to support fund liquidation through accomplishment reports and daily time records.
The complaint also cited alleged falsification of payrolls, documents, and liquidation reports to justify the release of funds, as well as unauthorized receipt of wages intended for beneficiaries. Attached to the complaint were sworn statements from beneficiaries, former program personnel, and an insider witness, as well as payroll vouchers, cash advance checks, and a recovered electronic master list used to verify beneficiary identities.
The respondents were accused of having direct roles in requesting, handling, receiving, managing, or physically transporting public funds during the previous administration of former Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna.
Umeda said the filing of the cases aims to hold those involved accountable for the alleged misuse of public funds and to establish criminal liability based on the evidence submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.
