Pacquiao ally, 8 others sentenced to life for malversation

MANILA, Philippines – Nine provincial officials of Sarangani, including an ally of boxing legend and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sandiganbayan First Division Thursday, January 30, for siphoning off government funds amounting to P475,000 in 2002. 

Convicted of malversation of public funds were incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Cornelio C. Martinez Jr. and Eugene L. Alzate; former Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Lelibeth Canillo-Prospero, Hernando L. Sibugan, Juanito H. Purisima, Marlind L. Marcelo, Redempto Y. Abiso, Jesus H. Desedilla; and former executive assistant Amelia Constantino-Zoleta. 

Martinez and Alzate ran and won under the People’s Champ Movement of Pacquiao.

Alzate was previously removed as a Sarangani board member by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). But he ran for re-election in May 2013 and won again.

This is in fact his second punishment from the Sandiganbayan. (READ: Pacquiao ally gets 10 years for graft) 

Aside from getting life terms, the 9 nine were also ordered to pay a P475,000 fine each and to jointly indemnify Sarangani province in the sum of P475,000.

The graft court also imposed perpetual disqualification from holding public office against all of them.

The decision, penned by Associate Justice and First Division chairman Efren N. de la Cruz, is subject to appeal, however. 

Fake NGO

The court gave credence to the testimony of Mary Ann G. Gadian, a computer operator assigned to the office of the late Sarangani Vice Governor Felipe K. Constantino. 

Gadian testified that her task was “to make fictitious transactions in order to get money from the government.” She said that the defendants ordered her to do “dirty tricks” in April 2002 to produce P20,000 for each of them for a trip to Manila.

Following orders, Gadian said she made it appear that the P475,000 went to a fictitious non-governmental organization (NGO) that was supposedly requested also by a fictitious official. The funds were supposed to support a non-existent “bagoong-making venture (shrimp paste).”

“The Court subjected Gadian and her testimony under close scrutiny, and found that she was a credible witness, and that her testimony was credible in itself,” the court declared.

Gadian was granted immunity from prosecution for testifying but the court did not take this against her.

“She could have chosen other persons and still avail of immunity, and not a bunch of persons who were in power,” the court added. – Rappler.com