The Sandiganbayan has affirmed conviction for graft and malversation through falsification of documents of former Quezon City councilor Dante M. De Guzman in the hiring of ghost employees in 2009.

De Guzman was found guilty of 16 counts of graft and 16 counts of malversation through falsification for releasing P361,500 to pay several ghost employees for salaries, performance incentives, and Christmas bonuses from June 2009 to June 2010.

He was sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to eight years imprisonment for each count of graft, and from six to 10 years for each count of malversation through falsification.

He was also disqualified perpetually from holding public office and his retirement and gratuity benefits were ordered forfeited.

The former councilor was also ordered to indemnify the Quezon City government of P361,500 as civil liability.

De Guzman filed a motion for reconsideration as he reiterated that his guilt was not proven beyond reasonable doubt.

In opposing the motion, the prosecution told the anti-graft court that De Guzman’s arguments were mere rehash of defenses already litigated by the court.

The court ruled: "A perusal of the present motion shows that it raises no substantial argument or cogent reason that would warrant a reversal or modification of the assailed decision. In fact, the court finds that the motion contains merely a reiteration or rehash of arguments already considered and passed upon at length in the judgment of conviction."

The three-page resolution was written by Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses and Gener M. Gito.