The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of husband and wife who were former mayors of Amulung town in Cagayan and the municipality’s former treasurer for graft and malversation of public funds involving P18.7 million from 2002 to 2009.
Affirmed were the convictions of spouses Nicanor C. De Leon and Pacita N. De Leon, and Luzviminda L. Macasio.
In denying their motions to reconsider the decision handed down on Nov. 3, 2022, the Sandiganbayan ruled: "Having perspicaciously passed upon such issues after a full-blown trial, it would be an exercise in futility for the Court to reiterate itself.”
The resolution that denied the motions was written by Associate Justice Kevin Narce B. Vivero with the concurrence of Sixth Division Chairperson Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda.
The spouses were found guilty of one count each of graft and one count each of malversation, while Macasio was convicted of two counts of graft and two counts of malversation.
They were sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment for each of their graft conviction. For malversation, Nicanor and Macasio were sentenced to 10 to 18 years, while Pacita and Macasio were sentenced to 10 to 13 years.
Nicanor and Macasio were each ordered to pay a fine of P16,340,959.04 for malversation, while Pacita and Macasio were each ordered to pay a fine of P2,332,182.61.
For civil liability, Nicanor and Macasio were ordered to refund to the Bureau of Treasury P16,340,959.04 plus interest, while Pacita and Macasio were ordered to pay back P2,332,182.61 also with interest.
Due to her death while the cases were pending, the charges against former municipal accountant Maria B. Remudaro had been dismissed.
Nicanor and Macasio were found to have released municipal funds through the issuance and encashment of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) checks amounting to P16,340,959.04 from Oct. 2, 2002 to July 2, 2007. The second set of graft and malversation charges against Pacita and Macasio involved P2,332,182.61 from Aug. 30, 2007 to Jan. 2009.
The anti-graft court’s decision said the accused “were united not only in the perpetration of fraud, but also in its concealment.”
TAGS: #Sandiganbayan #Amulung, Cagayan