Christian Calalang has formally disputed a July 26, 2026, report published by The Manila Times, titled “Margaroli, OMI-JKG win P470M license plate dispute,” labeling the article as both misleading and incomplete. According to Calalang, the report failed to capture the nuances of the ongoing legal battle surrounding the P470-million in consigned funds held by the Land Transportation Office (LTO). He maintains that these funds rightfully belong to the original owners of PPI-JKG Philippines, Inc., the long-standing supplier of LTO license plates and related services since 2014, rather than the parties currently claiming them.
The crux of the controversy lies in an interpleader case previously filed by the LTO before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 90. Calalang clarified that the case was never resolved on its merits; instead, it was terminated via a Joint Motion to Dismiss filed by the former LTO leadership and Annabelle Arcilla Margaroli, a former project financer for PPI-JKG. Calalang argues that because there was no trial or judicial ruling concerning the ownership of the money, the dismissal does not serve as a final legal validation of Margaroli’s claims to the funds.
The situation has become a point of contention for the current LTO administration. Under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, the LTO has actively questioned the validity of the previous administration’s decision to dismiss the case. The current agency officials have formally challenged the subsequent court orders that directed the release of the P470 million to Margaroli, asserting that she lacks the legal standing or entitlement to receive such a substantial sum of public-associated funds.
Beyond the civil dispute, Calalang addressed personal legal issues involving himself and Daniel Calalang. He defended their release in February 2026, stating it was the result of a lawful court process. After Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida granted a petition for review and reversed a previous finding of probable cause for qualified theft, the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office withdrew the information against them. Consequently, the Manila RTC Branch 184 dismissed the case, which Calalang cites as proof that the allegations against him lacked the necessary legal foundation.
The legal landscape is further complicated by a wave of cross-complaints. Calalang noted that a separate criminal complaint filed by Margaroli against him and his associates was dismissed by the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office for a lack of merit. Conversely, Calalang highlighted that Margaroli is currently mired in her own significant legal troubles, most notably a syndicated estafa case involving Procap. He reported that a Pasig City court has already issued a warrant for her arrest in that matter, with no bail permitted, underscoring the severity of the allegations she faces.
The battle for control of the PPI-JKG narrative has now moved to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office. PPI-JKG has filed a graft complaint against Margaroli and former LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, accusing them of impropriety regarding the management of the license plate funds. Additionally, Calalang has initiated a qualified theft complaint against Margaroli in Pasig City, alleging that she facilitated an unauthorized withdrawal of P851 million from the corporate account of PPI-JKG at Land Bank. These compounding legal actions suggest that the dispute over the LTO license plate contract is far from over.