2 Employees of Makati City LGU, Accomplice Arrested for Illegal Fixing

Authorities arrested two (2) employees of Makati City local government unit (LGU) and another accomplice for alleged illegal fixing.

Mayor Abby Binay of Makati City voiced her dismay when two city hall staffers and a coworker were suspected of rigging events. The suspects were identified as Wilfreda de Leon, 59, an Administrative Assistant II; Merlin Balbuena, 46, an employee of the Makati Health Department’s Sanitary Section; and Aishen Mana-ay, 27.

According to Makati police chief Col. Edward Cutiyog, his department received information from the city hall about the illicit transaction operations of its personnel under the Makati Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO). Prior to the suspects’ arrest, an officer pretended to be a businesswoman in need of assistance with a business permit and texted Mana-ay.

Mana-ay informed her that he would process the documents and requested P500 from the undercover cop. The suspect was apprehended during the entrapment operation.

During interrogation, he confessed that he had been told to accept the money for De Leon. Based on the report, De Leon was apprehended in a subsequent operation at Makati City Hall Building 2.

A P500 bill, 88 pieces of P1,000 entrapment money, three pieces of P500 boodle money, and a mobile tablet were recovered by police. Balbuena, on the other hand, was apprehended in separate entrapment operations in front of a convenience shop in J.P. After receiving information about fixers near Makati City Hall Building 2, the police blocked Rizal Avenue.

Balbuena allegedly demanded P600 in exchange for the health certificate to be issued quickly. Authorities seized a P1,000 bill, 49 pieces of P1,000 boodle money, and 41 completed health certificates, according to Cutiyog.

The individuals are charged with violating Republic Act 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. Apart from the criminal charges, De Leon, a regular local government employee, will no longer get benefits.

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