The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the complaint against former Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno over the alleged mishandling of cash assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) chief, Teddy Sabuga-a, and former CSWDO overseer, Mike Fabello, were also respondents of the case.

The case was filed by City Councilors James Judith and Malvern Esparcia.

In an eight-page decision, the Office of the Ombudsman said the complainants failed to present evidence that would prove that there was an anomaly in the distribution of the financial aid.

It can be recalled that the national government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Northern Mindanao (DSWD-10), downloaded more than P750 million to the local government for aid distribution.

However, the complainants argued that the assistance received by beneficiaries were not enough.

"It was a facade it was just a pure manipulation, a pure fabrication. A hot balloon. Judith wants to project himself as fighter with no fight,” Moreno said.

Moreno said the complaint filed by the two councilors was political harassment.

Judith, on the other hand, said that the complaint can still be filed again once they secure the Commission on Audit (COA) report asked by the joint order of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Dili sa na magmaya na sila kay natibawas na ang kaso apan nalihis lang kay gusto man gud ni Ombudsman nga mo agi ta sa proseso nga pangayuon gyud nato ang finding ni COA,” Judith said.