The Sandiganbayan convicted former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan of 126 counts of falsification of public documents, four counts of malversation of public funds, and four counts of graft.
Since Ampatuan did not attend the promulgation of the decision on Thursday, Feb. 9, he was ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan.
His co-accused, former provincial engineer Datu Ali Abpi, has reportedly died. But the Sandiganbayan has not been furnished a copy of his death certificate, thus, he was also found guilty of the charges.
Ampatuan, now mayor of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in Maguindanao, was convicted when he was provincial governor of the misuse of P72.25 million in public funds that was earmarked for the purchase of materials for school repairs.
But the prosecution was able to prove that the money went to fictitious lumber companies with the use of falsified disbursement vouchers in 2009.
Among the fictitious companies cited by the prosecution were Andong Lumberyard and Construction Supply, Nasser Lumberyard and Construction Supply, Ismael Lumberyard and Construction Supply, and Usman Lumberyard and Construction Supply.
For his graft conviction, Ampatuan was sentenced to prison term ranging from six to 10 years for each count with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
For malversation, he was sentenced to 17 to 18 years imprisonment for each count and ordered to pay the penalties of P15.995 million, P11.748 million, P12.419 million, and P22.018 million, which are equivalent to the amounts malversed.
The anti-graft court ordered Ampatuan and Abpi to solidarily pay back the government the amounts they malversed as way of civil liability. For Ampatuan the amount is P62.182 million, while for Abpi it is P67.194 million.
For falsification of public documents, Ampatuan was sentenced to a prison ranging from six to seven years for each count and a fine of P5,000, also for each count.
The cases against Ampatuan’s co-accused -- former provincial accountant John Estelito Dollosa Jr., provincial general services office and bids and awards committee (BAC) chairman Kasan Macapendeg, provincial treasurer and BAC member Osmena M. Bandila, provincial administrator and BAC member Norie Unas, provincial engineers and BAC member Landap Guinaid -- have been ordered archived pending their arrest.
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