Honey Lacuna's sister sues Isko Moreno, allies for Liga ouster

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December 3, 2025 | 8:53am

MANILA, Philippines — Former Manila ex-officio councilor Leilani Lacuna filed criminal and administrative complaints on Tuesday, December 2 against Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and several city officials over her alleged illegal removal as Liga ng mga Barangay president.

Lacuna, sister of former Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and former chair of Barangay 609 in Sta. Mesa, filed complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Moreno, Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, and 13 other officials on Dec. 2.

Lacuna accused the officials of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and usurpation of authority under the Revised Penal Code.

She said the complaints follow a separate civil petition filed by her and five barangay chairpersons before the Manila Regional Trial Court seeking to nullify their removal from the Liga ng mga Barangay and her ouster as the ex-officio councilor representing Manila’s 897 barangays.

"Mananagot sa batas sina Domagoso at mga kasabwat nito sa garapalang paglabag sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at sa kriminal na pagkamkam ng kapangyarihan," she said in a statement. (Domagoso and his accomplices will be held accountable under the law for the brazen violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for the criminal seizure of power.)

Lacuna alleges 'political vendetta'

Lacuna claimed the move against her was driven by "political vendetta" and an attempt to "seize the budget of the barangays."

"Ang motibo nila ay political vendetta at pagtatayo ng ganap na diktadura sa Maynila para makopo ang budget ng mga barangay. Pagyurak ito sa batas at sa karapatan ng bawat Manileño," she added. (Their motive is political vendetta and the establishment of a complete dictatorship in Manila to seize the budget of the barangays. This is a trampling of the law and the rights of every Manileño.)

Manila City Hall responds

The Office of the Mayor said it awaits the "formal service" of the complaint but maintained that the election of a new Liga leadership reflected the will of barangay chairpersons.

"The City Government of Manila respects the will of 844 out of 896 barangay chairpersons who, among themselves, voted in favor of the new set of officers," the statement read. "To claim that this overwhelming majority were intimidated into participating in a duly constituted process… is an insult to their intelligence. Mere allegations are not synonymous with truth."

Moreno and Honey Lacuna faced each other in the 2025 mayoral race, where Moreno won with 529,507 votes. Atienza was elected vice mayor with 582,510 votes.