A disturbing case of corruption has emerged in Manila, where local barangay officials are being accused of running a "ghost pensioner" scheme. The fraud involves collecting monthly social welfare allowances intended for elderly residents who have already passed away. The scheme came to light when local families noticed the names of their long-deceased relatives appearing on official payout lists, complete with forged signatures indicating that the meager P500 monthly stipends had been claimed. Beth Rivera, the director of the Manila Office for Senior Citizen Affairs, has confirmed the legitimacy of these complaints, noting that several individuals who died as far back as 2021 were still listed as active recipients.

The situation escalated when families attempted to seek justice, only to be met with alleged bribery and intimidation. Relatives of the deceased, including the daughter of one victim, revealed that the local barangay chairperson personally reached out to them, pleading for the withdrawal of criminal and administrative charges. The official reportedly even offered to hand over the salaries of staff members involved in the scam to hush the matter. As the Manila police begin their investigation into Barangay 890 in the Sta. Ana District, the families affected are expressing profound betrayal, noting that they had considered these officials friends long before this exploitative abuse of power was uncovered.