MMDA personnel charged over salary ‘shaving’ scam
Some employees of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have been arrested and are facing charges after they were found to be stealing small sums from the salaries of their coworkers.
In a statement on Wednesday, the MMDA said it discovered last week an illegal salary deduction scheme being perpetrated by some personnel under its payroll division.
“These unscrupulous personnel found a way to manipulate the computerized payroll system, unlawfully took small amounts from the salaries of targeted employees and diverted those amounts to their own accounts,” it added.
The MMDA said that a complaint was filed against these employees, with MMDA Chair Don Artes acting as the complainant.
MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana led the arrest of the employees believed to be involved in the scheme.
The MMDA, however, did not say how many were arrested, nor did it identify the suspects as well as what charges it filed against them. It also did not disclose the amount reportedly taken from the victims.
Deeper conspiracy
According to the MMDA, further investigations exposed “a deeper conspiracy … with the alleged involvement of other employees.”
“Formal complaints against these employees are being prepared and a strong case build-up is being done for the filing of nonbailable charges against the perpetrators,” it said.
Those suspected to be involved have since been placed under preventive suspension while their work computers were also secured.
According to the MMDA, an internal audit and investigation is ongoing, and safety measures have been implemented to prevent a similar scheme in the future.
“Rest assured that the MMDA will delve deeper into the matter and make sure that all responsible will be prosecuted and punished accordingly,” it said.
