The son of a senior citizen from Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City complained against alleged fraudulent release of birthday cash gift for his father.

A copy of the formal complaint was sent by the son, Jan Ray Tumulak, to the Office of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan, requesting to be enlightened at what he deems to be a "fraudulent release" of birthday cash gift for his deceased father. 

Tumulak narrated that his father was able to mark his 63^rd birthday on June 13, 2025, but did not receive the supposed P1,000 cash gift for elderly persons celebrating birth anniversaries in June. 

His father passed away on July 2, 2025 while awaiting the release of the said amount. 

After his father's death, Tumulak said he tried checking on the supposed cash gift based on the last instruction of his father. He went to the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in his barangay. He was told reportedly that he could not claim the amount as his father is already dead. 

Tumulak said he proceeded to the City Treasurer’s Office to check if he would get the same answer. However, he was startled upon learning that the cash gift was claimed reportedly by another person. 

He said he decided to raise the concern at the Mayor’s Office through a formal complaint. But the time given by a staff member of the Office of the Mayor already lapsed, yet, he pointed out, he did not receive any feedback. 

On August 6, 2025, he posted about the incident on his social media account to draw public attention. 

According to Sheila Baylosis, officer in charge of the City Social Welfare Development (CSWD), she received a copy of the formal complaint just yet, or on Thursday, August 7, 2025.

In a text message sent by City Treasurer Clair Cabalda, disbursing officer assigned to distribute the cash gift,  all unclaimed amount has been logged under the list of unclaimed benefits in the payroll, including that of Tumulak's father.

In addition, Baylosis said that Tumulak may claim the amount on his father’s behalf.

Following the incident, the CSWD will conduct its own investigation, especially on the staff members who were in charge of the distribution of birthday cash gifts for senior citizens.