A businessman has asked the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas to investigate Mandaue City Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President and ex-officio Councilor Fleuritz Gayle Jumao-as over an alleged P1.35-million debt linked to youth activities in Barangay Paknaan.
In a 12-page complaint-affidavit dated Aug. 17, 2026, businessman Wendell B. Basaca accused Jumao-as of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public official, dishonesty, grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct.
Basaca, owner of LA Food Hauz & Catering Services, also sought an investigation into possible violations of Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The complaint also named Renato Yosores Jr., whom Basaca identified as an events coordinator for the activities involved in the transactions.
According to the affidavit, Jumao-as approached Basaca in 2025 to borrow P700,000 for the Silhig sa Paknaan 2025 event, allegedly explaining that the activity’s subsidy had not yet been released and funds were needed for preparations.
Basaca said Jumao-as introduced Yosores as the events coordinator and assured him that the loan would be repaid.
“Because the SK of Paknaan had been our valued client, I agreed to lend the amount with interest and Fleuritz expressly agreed,” Basaca said in the complaint.
On Feb. 4, 2025, Yosores allegedly sent Basaca a breakdown of festival expenses through a Facebook Messenger group chat. The following day, Jumao-as allegedly messaged Basaca, saying, “sir dell mo vouch ko ani ha hahahaha.”
Basaca claimed the assurance prompted him to release the remaining P272,000 of the P700,000 loan. He alleged that Yosores insisted on receiving the amount in cash rather than through an online transfer.
The complaint also cited a subsequent request for money for The Outstanding Youth Award (TOYA), another activity scheduled for February 2025.
Basaca alleged that Jumao-as sought additional financial assistance on Feb. 14 and assured him that the earlier loan would be repaid through the barangay once the funds were processed.
He said he subsequently transferred P500,000 to Yosores through five online banking transactions from Feb. 17 to 21, 2025: P100,000 on Feb. 17, P50,000 on Feb. 18, P150,000 on Feb. 19, and P100,000 each on Feb. 20 and 21.
Basaca claimed he extended the additional funds based on Jumao-as’ assurances that the money would be repaid.
He said Jumao-as later provided updates on the supposed liquidation and release of the subsidies, including assurances in late February and early March 2025 that the payments were being processed by the city accounting office.
However, Basaca alleged that he received no payment despite following up in June, July and August 2025 and again in November. According to the complaint, Jumao-as continued to tell him that the payment was being processed and that she was trying to expedite its release.
The dispute extended into 2026, with Basaca claiming that Jumao-as maintained the subsidy for the Silhig Festival had already been released to the barangay, while the subsidy for TOYA remained pending.
On May 6, 2026, Basaca said he went to Paknaan Barangay Hall and personally handed Jumao-as a demand letter.
According to the complaint, Jumao-as said she had followed up with the Mandaue City Accounting Office on the release of subsidies supposedly intended to reimburse the borrowed money.
Basaca alleged that Jumao-as later denied participating in the borrowing, saying Yosores had received the money and that she had not signed any document acknowledging receipt of the funds.
In a written reply dated June 10, 2026, Jumao-as allegedly acknowledged her involvement in the SK activities but denied participating in the borrowing, according to Basaca.
The complainant further alleged that he was told documents from other event suppliers had been used to process the government subsidies because his own business documents could not be used for that purpose.
Basaca said he sought clarification from the city accounting office after the respondents allegedly failed to settle the amounts.
In a letter dated Aug. 12, 2026, the office reportedly informed him that transaction JEV-2025-05-000183, dated May 31, 2025, reflected the liquidation of a P100,000 cash advance for Barangay Paknaan’s socio-cultural expenses related to the Silhig Festival.
Basaca claimed the accounting record contradicted the assurances he had received about the processing and release of the subsidy.
Basaca argued that Jumao-as, as an SK chairperson and federation president, was responsible for ensuring that public funds and activities complied with government accounting and auditing rules.
He alleged that soliciting private loans for SK activities, relying on a private individual to receive and disburse money for official projects, and misrepresenting the status of government subsidies could constitute grave misconduct and abuse of authority.
He also cited Section 7(d) of Republic Act 6713, which prohibits public officials and employees from soliciting or accepting certain gifts, favors, loans or anything of monetary value in connection with their official duties.
Basaca asked the Ombudsman to investigate possible liability under Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, which penalizes certain acts by public officers that cause undue injury or give unwarranted benefits through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.
He urged the Ombudsman to determine whether Jumao-as should face criminal and administrative charges and to include Yosores in the investigation over his alleged role in the transactions.
The Freeman sought Jumao-as’ comment on Oct. 12, 2026, but she had not responded to a request for comment as of publication.
Comments