MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has turned down the motions for reconsideration filed by a former Bukidnon lawmaker and his two co-accused in multiple counts of graft and malversation.
“The findings stand” for former Bukidnon 1st District congressman Candido Pancrudo, private individual Johanne Edward Labay of the Farmer-Business Development Corp., and former Technology Resource Center legislative liaison officer Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana.
They were convicted in April arising from the misuse of PHP36.9 million from the ex-lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) between 2007 and 2008.
Pancrudo, 67, served from 2007 to 2010.
The ghost PDAF projects were training and livelihood seminars and purchase of training materials.
“After a careful study, the Court finds no valid reason to reconsider or modify the decision dated April 14, 2023. The arguments raised by the accused have already been considered and passed upon by the Court when it rendered the aforementioned decision,” the court said in its July 10 decision.
The four counts of malversation of public funds carried a total prison term ranging from 48 to 70 years with a fine of PHP32.8 million each.
They were sentenced to jail terms of six to 13 years for each count and fined PHP4.1 million each for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.
Prosecutors said the transactions did not undergo public bidding, were not liquidated, and were preferentially accommodated in the examination, processing, and approval of fund releases. (PNA)
