The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of former human resources supervisor Encarnita C. Munsod of the now defunct National Agribusiness Corporation (NabCor) in the misuse of the P14.55 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former Nueva Ecija fourth district congressman Rodolfo W. Antonino.
Munsod’s motion for reconsideration was denied by the anti-graft court in a resolution issued on Aug. 7, 2023.
Antonino had earlier been acquitted by the Sandiganbayan.
In her motion, Munsod raised the issue of inordinate delay. She also said that she was a newly-hired probationary employee when the PDAF-funded project of Antonino was transacted in NabCor, and she was merely designated to sign the disbursement vouchers (DVs).
But the Sandiganbayan said: "Certifying the DV cannot be downplayed as a ministerial function. Rather, it demands the exercise of sound discretion. Concededly, accused Munsod has failed to diligently crosscheck if everything is above board."
Associate Justice Kevin Narce B. Vivero wrote the 11-page resolution with the concurrence of Sixth Division Chairperson Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Associate Justice Bayani H. Jacinto.
Munsod was earlier sentenced to six to seven years imprisonment for each of her two graft cases and 10 to 17 years in jail for each of her two malversation charges. She was also ordered to pay a fine of P13,095,000 and P1,455,000 in the malversation charges.
The cases against her co-accused – then NabCor president Alan Javellana and private individuals Marilou Antonio and Carmelita Barredo -- have been ordered archived pending their arrest.
The charges stemmed from the endorsement of the non-government organization Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation, Inc. (BMMKFI) as a "project partner" in the implementation of livelihood projects for Nueva Ecija's 4th district.
The prosecution said that the projects were funded with P13,095,000 and P1,455,000 coming from the PDAF of Antonino even if there was no public bidding conducted. At the same time, the BMMKFI was unaccredited and unqualified to undertake the project, it said.