Manila, April 2 -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Wednesday the arrest of some of its employees involved in payroll theft through the manipulation of the agency's computerized payroll system.

In a statement, the MMDA said the scheme was perpetrated by personnel under its Payroll Division who illegally took small amounts from the salaries of target employees and diverted those amounts to their accounts.

"Immediately upon its discovery, a complaint was filed with no less than MMDA Chair Romando Artes as complainant," it said.

MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana has since led the arrest of employees involved in the scheme, and inquest proceedings were conducted.

As part of the investigation, it noted t...