The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a barangay councilor in Baguio City for falsification of public documents and malversation of public funds but it reduced the number of cases for which he was found guilty.

The Baguio City regional trial court (RTC) had found Councilor Romel H. Beltran guilty in 10 counts of falsification of public documents and nine counts of malversation of public funds. He appealed the RTC’s ruling before the Sandiganbayan.

Granting partially Beltran’s appeal, the Sandiganbayan affirmed his conviction in only four counts each of falsification of public documents and malversation of public funds with a prison term ranging from two to four years for each count.

The anti-graft court’s seventh division also modified the amount imposed by the RTC as fine from P3,820 to P1,470 in the malversation cases and limited to P1,000 the fine in each of the falsification cases.

Beltran’s criminal charges arose from the complaint filed by a former barangay councilor who claimed that he (Beltran) made false entries in various Summary of Collections and Deposits (SCD) and the difference was converted to his personal use.

"We hold that, insofar as Criminal Case Nos. 37716-R, 37718-R, 37720-R, and 37721-R, where the fund shortages were duly established, the RTC was correct in presuming that accused-appellant Beltran misappropriated the difference in the amounts indicated in the OR (official receipt) issued to payors and the SCDs based on his failure to account therefor upon demand," the Sandiganbayan said.

However, the anti-graft court reversed his conviction for the other charges on the ground of reasonable doubt.

The decision was written by Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses with the concurrence of Seventh Division Chairperson Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Esotesta and Associate Justice Georgina D. Hidalgo.