Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday dropped a bombshell in his inaugural State of the City Address, revealing that billions of pesos were withdrawn by city officials in the months leading up to the May 2025 elections — withdrawals that he called suspicious and possibly used to buy votes.

Moreno declared the city in a state of financial crisis, saying the local government is now operating under an emergency.

“The capital of the country is already in the financial ICU,” he told the Manila City Council and a packed audience at the session hall.

He unveiled the creation of Task Force FACTS — short for Fiscal Accountability, Cost Transparency, and Spending — to lead the financial cleanup and investigate highly questionable cash movements in the previous administration.

Moreno pointed to a massive P10.2 billion in unpaid obligations, including delayed infrastructure projects, suspended garbage collection contracts, and social benefits that were never released.

The city’s 2024 budget was set at P25.8 billion, but actual collections only reached P21.2 billion, creating a shortfall of over P4.6 billion.

“Napakasimple ng arithmetic —kulang sila. Hindi sapat ang kinita para tustusan ang mga ginastos nila,” he said. (It was simple arithmetic — they fell short. Their earnings didn’t cover their expenses.)

But more alarming, he said, was the scale and timing of the massive withdrawals made just before the elections.

Between January and May 2025, more than P3.8 billion was released in various transactions, while P2.1 billion was withdrawn in large cash advances by 21 officials during the campaign period.

Moreno said this was on top of another P7.8 billion that may have been funneled to barangay officials through “emergency” job orders, which he believes could be considered a form of vote buying.

He cited the case of Jonathan Gorzo, a city hall employee who was allegedly authorized to encash a P132-million check just three days before the election. Moreno said this incident explains why an “empty vault” greeted the transition team upon entering the mayor’s office.

He also called out Joy Dawis-Asuncion, a former city councilor who later served as assistant city administrator. She was the listed recipient of a P683-million cash advance, reportedly drawn from the general fund and transferred to the trust fund — then immediately returned to the general fund — without clear authorization or legal basis.

In another case, Ferna Bermejo, who headed the Public Employment Services Office (PESO), allegedly received P641 million in cash advances, in what Moreno said was a coordinated move with Dawis-Asuncion.

Lawyer Marlon Lacson, former secretary to then mayor Honey Lacuna, was also flagged for securing P1.1 billion in cash advances. Moreno questioned the volume and justification for these disbursements, saying they all deserve scrutiny.

“May kapabayaan. Pinabayaan. Sa totoo lang, estafa ito,” Moreno said. (There was negligence. They allowed this to happen. Frankly, this is estafa.)

He also pointed to an unusual spike in job orders — from 8,309 to 9,830 — in the lead-up to the elections, a tactic he believes was used to distribute cash under the guise of temporary employment.

Beyond the exposé, Moreno vowed to restore accountability, rebuild public trust, and repair the city’s battered finances. He pledged to reinstate benefits for senior citizens, including those previously delisted for not being voters.

“Botante ka man o hindi, may sakit o wala, basta buhay ka — may pension ka sa Lungsod ng Maynila,” he said. (Whether you’re a voter or not, sick or healthy — as long as you’re alive, you’ll get your pension from the City of Manila.)

To ensure that reforms take root, Moreno directed all department heads to submit expenditure plans based only on what is essential, stressing that political patronage and reckless budgeting must end.

Moreno tapped new City Administrator Letlet Zarcal to lead the investigation into the transactions. He promised to release the full findings in his next city address.

“Magkakasama nating aayusin ang lungsod. Panahon na para gamutin at pagalingin ang Maynila,” he said. (Together, we will fix this city. It’s time to heal and make Manila better.)