Dr. Leilani Lacuna, sister of former Mayor Honey Lacuna, went to the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday and filed a graft and usurpation complaint against current Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Vice Mayor Chi Atienza and 13 other city officials.

The complaint stemmed from her alleged removal as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay following what she described as a “special election.”

“This did not go through due process. I am an ex-officio member of the Manila City Council because I am the legitimate Liga President of Manila. They removed me, and this is what I am fighting for,” Lacuna said in Filipino.

According to Lacuna, after the May 2025 election, the respondents “conspired and confederated with each other” and participated in what she called a “grand plot” to oust her from her post, noting that she is “the last Lacuna in the City Hall of Manila.”

The complainant cited several alleged incidents meant to remove her from office, including when her travel authority for personal trips was questioned. She also claimed the mayor and other officials used intimidation tactics on barangay captains to remove her.

“Domagoso and his cohorts targeted the Barangay Captains using intimidation and various forms of harassment to remove me from the office,” Lacuna said in a statement released to the media.

Lacuna said the “nail in the coffin” was the holding of the General Assembly of Barangay Chairmen on 7 November 2025 and the election of a new set of officers and directors of the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Manila on 10 November 2025.

Meanwhile, the City Government of Manila released a statement saying it has not yet received a copy of the complaint but will await its formal service. The city government underscored that it respects the will of the 844 out of 896 barangay chairpersons who elected a new set of officers in the Liga ng mga Barangay.

“Such participation marks a historic turnout,” the City Government of Manila said.

“To claim that this overwhelming majority were intimidated into participating in a duly constituted process to elect new officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay is an insult to their intelligence. Mere allegations are not synonymous with the truth,” it emphasized.