PSC employee started ripping off agency in 2015

An employee of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly padding the payroll of the PSC and transferring the money to his account.

Paul Ignacio, a computer operator who prepared the payroll list and register that would be forwarded to the bank, allegedly stole P14.4 million in a span of five years. He was arrested at the PSC office in Manila on Tuesday.

Kristine dela Cruz, executive officer of the National Bureau of Investigation Special Action Unit, said that the subject used names of athletes and coaches who were no longer qualified to receive allowances from the PSC.

Ignacio would put his account number as the recipient so the money would be credited to his LandBank payroll.

In an interview with Inquirer, Ignacio said that he first tried payroll padding in August 2015 using the bank’s payroll register. When it worked, he added that he continued the scam.

Ignacio, however, said that he did not take money from athletes and coaches. He added that no other employees at the PSC were involved in the scam.

According to the NBI report, the June 2020 payroll register prepared by the subject revealed that six athletes and coaches were included on the list of recipients and that the P450,000 total amount was to be credited to Ignacio’s account.

The Land Bank of the Philippines flagged PSC over the suspected fraud. In the postoperation report of the NBI, Ignacio’s account appeared on the alert system due to a large cash transaction.

Lawyer Michelle Labajanan of the PSC requested the NBI to investigate the scheme.

The subject was charged with qualified theft, falsification of documents, violation of the Revised Penal Code and Section 4(b)(1) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.