Mayor Ruffy Biazon will continue to serve as the local chief executive of Muntinlupa despite a Sandiganbayan decision convicting him in a case related to a Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) project in 2007.  

“Mahalagang linawin na hindi pa pinal ang desisyong ito. Ayon sa batas, mananatiling Punong Lungsod si Mayor Ruffy, at magpapatuloy ang kanyang panunungkulan ayon sa mandatong binigay sa kanya ng mga mamamayang Muntinlupeno (“It is important to clarify that this decision has not yet been finalized. According to the law, Mayor Ruffy will remain the City Mayor, and his tenure will continue according to the mandate given to him by the people of Muntinlupeno),” said lawyer Mitchell-David Espiritu, Biazon’s spokesperson. 

Biazon said, “Public service should not be derailed by noise or distraction. My commitment to Muntinlupeños stands firm—a city led with compassion, guided by vision, and focused on real solutions.”

In a decision, the Sandiganbayan’s Special Seventh Division found Biazon and others guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft And Corrupt Practices Act). 

“In Criminal Case No. SB-16-CRM-0249. the court finds accused Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon, Dennis L. Cunanan, Maria Rosalinda M. Lacsamana, Evelyn D. De Leon and Janet Lim Napoles guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. No.3019, as amended, and are hereby sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment for a minimum period of six years and one month and a maximum period of eight years, and to suffer perpetual disqualification from holding public office,” the Sandiganbayan ruled. 

The case stemmed from a project in 2007 that Biazon implemented when he was still the congressman of Muntinlupa. 

It charged that in 2007, the respondents, “acting with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and/or gross inexcusable negligence, did then and there willfully, unlawfully,and criminally cause undue injury to the government and/or give unwarranted benefits and advantage to said private individuals in the amount of two million seven hundred thousand pesos (P2,700,000.00) more or less.”

Espiritu said a motion for reconsideration will be filed with the Sandiganbayan about the decision. 

Section 3(e) of the law refers to “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.”

Espiritu said they were surprised by the guilty decision of the Sandiganbayan against Biazon. 

“Gayunpaman, ikinagulat po natin ang hatol kay Mayor Ruffy Biazon sa akusasyong paglabag sa Republic Act 3019—lalo na’t nauna na siyang na-abswelto sa charges kaugnay sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan. Ang charges na bribery at money laundering ay nauna nang na-dismiss ng dahil sa kawalan ng ebidensya. Ngayon naman ay acquitted din si Mayor Biazon sa charge ng Malversation. Sa ngayon, tatlo sa apat na reklamong isinampa laban sa kanya ay naibasura na—isa mula sa Ombudsman at dalawa sa Sandiganbayan (However, we were surprised by the verdict against Mayor Ruffy Biazon on charges of violating Republic Act 3019—especially since he was previously acquitted of charges related to the use of public funds. The charges of bribery and money laundering were previously dismissed due to lack of evidence. Now, Mayor Biazon has also been acquitted of the charge of Malversation. To date, three of the four complaints filed against him have been dismissed—one from the Ombudsman and two from the Sandiganbayan),” said Espiritu.