MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally charged three former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) employees with multiple counts of theft and forgery for their involvement in a payroll padding scam.
In a 23-page resolution signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Moises Acayan Sr., Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon, and Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento, made public on Friday, several counts of qualified theft, attempted qualified theft, cyber-related forgery, and computer-related fraud were filed against Paul Ignacio, Michaelle Jones Velarde, and Lymuel Seguilla.
Ignacio was first caught last July when then acting PSC executive director Merlita Ibay, in a letter sent to the National Bureau of Investigation, found out that he was using names of athletes and coaches not anymore with the national team to collect their supposed allowances and place them in his own account.
Velarde and Seguilla were later dragged to the case.
The padding scheme forced a shake-up within the PSC.
“It is a regrettable incident but it compelled us to fast-track upgrades and consider a second-look at existing processes,” said PSC chairman Butch Ramirez about the restructuring.
The Imus Regional Trial Court will handle the case. (PNA)
