‘Isko,’ ‘Honey,’ sued for plunder, graft

THE Office of the Ombudsman last September 29, 2022, has acknowledged the receipt of a complaint for plunder, graft and corruption, violation of the Data Privacy Act, procurement law, due process and unethical conduct as public officials, against Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah ‘Honey’ Lacuna and her predecessor, Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso, for the city’s implementation of the controversial ‘No Contact Apprehension Program’ (NCAP) involving traffic violations.

Respected Manila businessman and known crusader for public good, Atty. Alex Lopez, also included in the charge sheet, Manolo Steven M. Ona, chief executive of ‘QPax Traffic System,’ which is the private sector partner and implementer of the controversial program not only in Manila but in 5 other cities in Metro Manila.

Specifically, Lopez asked the OMB to investigate the accused for violations of Republic Act No. 7080 (Plunder Law; no bail recommended); RA 3019, (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); RA 10173 (Data Privacy Law); and, RA 6713, (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards).

In his complaint, Lopez accused Mayor Lacuna of making the NCAP a “money-making machine, a corruption scheme disguised as a legitimate law enforcement tool,” further adding that Lacuna has continued the “plundering” of the penalties collected from alleged traffic violations.

Lopez averred the resulting situation has defeated one of the purpose of the NCAP, which is, to

avoid robbery extortion involving traffic enforcers, to ease traffic in Manila, and to “unburden” the government of past methods of implementing traffic rules and regulations.

Lopez, who ran but lost against Lacuna in the May 9, 2022 elections, also questioned Manila’s entering into a ‘PPP’ (Public-Private Partnership) with QPax to implement the NCAP as the LGU ceded its “police power” to a private entity in exchange for a “percentage” from the collected traffic violations fees.

He likewise questioned the technology of QPAX as not being suitable for NCAP, since its technology identifies the vehicle and its registered owner and not the driver behind the vehicle.

“The real offender is the driver and not the registered owner of the vehicle allegedly used to commit or has committed a traffic offense,” Lopez stressed/

“Mayor Honey Lacuna is presumed to have a pecuniary benefit by allowing QPAX Traffic Systems, Inc. to get shares from the funds intended as payment for traffic violations,” Lopez alleged.

Since 2020, Lopez averred further that the NCAP in Manila has collected over P50 million, with the amount being shared ‘unequally’ between the city government and QPax—30 percent going to Manila and 70 percent to the company. The sharing arrangement, however, is not clearly stated in the city ordinance that implemented the program in the city.

The situation, Lopez said, is a “trap like a crocodile waiting for food.”

Lopez also urged the Ombudsman to preventively suspend Lacuna for at least 6 months pending the resolution of the complaint as her continued stay in office might endanger the cases against her and Moreno for their continued access to sensitive documents related to the program.

Lopez also prayed for the Ombudsman to order Lacuna’s dismissal as mayor and her perpetual disqualification to hold public office.