Ex-Maguindanao governor convicted anew

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Maguindanao governor Sajid Islam Ampatuan again, this time over ghost purchases of palay, corn seeds and fertilizers worth P98.2 million in 2009.

In a 57-page decision dated March 10 and released yesterday, the anti-graft court’s third division said Ampatuan was found guilty of graft and malversation through falsification of public documents.

He was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison for malversation and another eight to 12 years for graft.

Ampatuan’s co-accused former provincial agriculturist Mosibicak Guiabel and former provincial budget officer Datu Ali Abpi Al Haj were found guilty of the same charges.

Ampatuan and Guiabel were ordered to pay a fine of P98.2 million, which is equivalent to the amount malversed, and another P98.2 million as restitution.

Graft probers said Ampatuan and his co-accused used falsified disbursement vouchers, journal entry vouchers, purchase requests and other supporting documents to make it appear that the agricultural items were delivered and the amount had been paid.

The court said Ampatuan cannot escape criminal liability by claiming that his signatures on the documents were forged, citing the ”overwhelming and independent proof that the subject transactions were simulated.”

Last month, Ampatuan and Abpi were convicted in the 144 cases filed against them in connection with anomalous transactions the provincial government entered into in 2009.

The two were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for each count of graft and a maximum of 18 years for each count of malversation of public funds.

The Sandiganbayan ordered Ampatuan’s arrest in January after he failed to attend the promulgation of the decision on the graft and malversation charges filed against him in connection with other anomalous transactions he entered into in 2009.

He was sentenced to up to 112 years in prison for eight counts each of graft and falsification of public documents.