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Ex-Ad Executive Convicted Over Fake Reimbursements
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A former top executive of advertising firm FCBManila has been convicted of estafa after a Makati court found that he used company funds to pay for personal purchases disguised as business expenses.
In a decision dated April 23, 2026, a Makati Regional Trial Court found former advertising executive Arnold C. Liong guilty beyond reasonable doubt and ordered him to pay more than ₱2.8 million in damages to the company.
Court records showed that Liong, who served as President and CEO of FCBManila before later becoming a consultant, submitted dozens of reimbursement claims in 2015 that were later discovered to be unrelated to company operations.
The questionable expenses reportedly included a PlayStation IV console, PS4 games, grocery purchases, Nike items, a Disney kitchen box, condominium parking fees, and vehicle maintenance costs.
According to the ruling, Liong filed 55 reimbursement requests between January and December 2015 amounting to ₱2,811,444.22. The court said he used his position as the company’s top executive to approve several of the claims himself, while others were reportedly pre-approved before the accounting department could fully review them.
Branch 58 Acting Presiding Judge Rommel O. Baybay sentenced Liong to an indeterminate prison term ranging from six months and one day of prision correccional as minimum, up to six years and one day of prision mayor as maximum.
The penalty was imposed under Republic Act No. 10951, which updated penalties for financial crimes based on the amount involved.
Aside from the prison sentence, the court also ordered Liong to return the full ₱2.81 million to FCBManila as civil damages.
Despite the conviction, the court allowed Liong to remain temporarily free under the same bond after his lawyers filed a motion following the promulgation of judgment.
In a decision dated April 23, 2026, a Makati Regional Trial Court found former advertising executive Arnold C. Liong guilty beyond reasonable doubt and ordered him to pay more than ₱2.8 million in damages to the company.
Court records showed that Liong, who served as President and CEO of FCBManila before later becoming a consultant, submitted dozens of reimbursement claims in 2015 that were later discovered to be unrelated to company operations.
The questionable expenses reportedly included a PlayStation IV console, PS4 games, grocery purchases, Nike items, a Disney kitchen box, condominium parking fees, and vehicle maintenance costs.
According to the ruling, Liong filed 55 reimbursement requests between January and December 2015 amounting to ₱2,811,444.22. The court said he used his position as the company’s top executive to approve several of the claims himself, while others were reportedly pre-approved before the accounting department could fully review them.
Branch 58 Acting Presiding Judge Rommel O. Baybay sentenced Liong to an indeterminate prison term ranging from six months and one day of prision correccional as minimum, up to six years and one day of prision mayor as maximum.
The penalty was imposed under Republic Act No. 10951, which updated penalties for financial crimes based on the amount involved.
Aside from the prison sentence, the court also ordered Liong to return the full ₱2.81 million to FCBManila as civil damages.
Despite the conviction, the court allowed Liong to remain temporarily free under the same bond after his lawyers filed a motion following the promulgation of judgment.
Apr 30, 2026
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