The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of two barangay officials in Mulanay, Quezon for malversation of P900,495 public funds in 2007.

Affirmed was the June 15, 2023 decision handed down by the Quezon regional trial court (RTC) which convicted Barangay Chairperson Annabelle Veluya and Treasurer Jofelyn Jaqueca of Barangay IV-Poblacion in Malunay town.

Also affirmed was the imprisonment imposed by the RTC on Veluya and Jaqueca ranging from two years, four months and one day to six years and one day, and the payment of fine amounting to P900,495.

In their appeal before the anti-graft court, they claimed that there should be proof that demand was made by any duly authorized officer for the public funds.

But the anti-graft court said: “It did not matter that a demand was not made against the accused-appellants since the same is not necessary to prove malversation. At the end of the day, what pivots this court to adjudge is whether the essential elements of malversation, as provided by law and jurisprudence, were proven beyond reasonable doubt, as found by the trial court.”

Thus, it ruled that with the failure of Veluya and Jaqueca to provide compelling reasons to overturn the decision, “their judgment of conviction should only be sustained.”

The 22-page decision was written by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses and Georgina D. Hidalgo.