The Sandiganbayan has allowed Davao Del Sur Gov. Marc Douglas Chan Cagas IV to plead guilty to a lesser offense on the two graft and two malversation charges on his alleged misuse of P12.95 million in priority development assistance fund (PDAF) when he was a member of Congress.
With the approval, Cagas will be imposed lower penalties than those actually prescribed for graft and malversation.
Plea bargaining is “a process of negotiation between the prosecution and the defense in a criminal case whereby the accused – in return for leniency or a lighter sentence – agreed to plead guilty to a lesser offense.”
Cagas’ motion for plea bargaining on his criminal cases had the consent of the prosecution which required that the former legislator would return to the government P12.95 million of his previous PDAF.
He then filed with the anti-graft court a compliance last April 4 and submitted a certified true copy of Official Receipt No. 9700057 dated last April 1 evidencing the payment of P12.95 million.
With the compliance, the Sandiganbayan approved Cagas’ and the prosecution’s joint motion for plea bargaining. Cagas’ arraignment was set on May 13 at 8:30 a.m.
Cagas was previously the vice governor of Davao del Sur, but he was sworn in as governor on June 10, 2021 with the death of his father, the late Gov. Douglas R. Cagas, due to Covid-19 complications.
The Sandiganbayan’s resolution was written by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang with the concurrence of Associate Justices Bernelito R. Fernandez and Ronald B. Moreno.