Ex-Sarangani governor gets 18 years for malversation

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former governor of Sarangani and a provincial agriculture officer to 18 years in prison for malversation.

Former Sarangani governor Miguel Escobar and provincial agriculture officer Romeo Miole were convicted for allegedly distributing to municipal and barangay officials P1.44 million worth of relief goods meant for indigenous people and farmers whose crops were destroyed in flood in 2001.

Aside from prison term, the Sandiganbayan disqualified Escobar and Miole from holding any public office.

Records showed that in 2001, the provincial government launched the Sagip Taniman Program, aimed at providing sacks of rice to farmers and indigenous people who were affected by the La Niña.

The program also sought to provide the victims with hybrid grains that they could use in their farms.

The anti-graft court said that the 1,875 sacks of rice and 240 sacks of hybrid corn and rice seeds did not reach the beneficiaries, prompting the Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the matter and interview farmers.

“The annual COA report reveals that the actual recipients were mostly government officials of Sarangani and not farmers and fisherfolk who were victims of the flashflood,” the Sandiganbayan said.

Investigation showed the requisition and issuance vouchers submitted by the office of the provincial agriculturist showed that the sacks of rice were distributed to municipal and barangay officials on June 30, 2002, a week before the barangay election.