Congress urged to probe Manila vice mayor’s plunder rap

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila councilor has asked Congress to investigate a plunder charge against Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and several other officials.

In a letter to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., fifth district Councilor Ali Atienza formally sought an investigation “because this could be happening in different local government units in the entire Philippines, hence, a matter of national concern.” 

Atienza said yesterday he wrote in behalf of 11 barangay chairmen who sought the assistance of his office regarding their real property tax (RPT) shares.

Five barangay chairmen from Tondo filed plunder charges against Moreno and other officials with the Office of the Ombudsman last week for allegedly funneling their RPT shares to Barangay 128, which is under chairman Siegfred Hernane.

Atienza said the complainants were “wondering about the status of their barangays’ respective RPT shares that were released and delivered to only one barangay.”

He said the complainants believe the diversion of the RPT shares to be illegal since “this was made through a mere resolution and not by an ordinance.”