Sandigan affirms another guilty verdict vs Ampatuan

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of former Maguindanao governor Sajid Ampatuan in connection with the alleged fictitious or “ghost” purchase of palay, corn seeds and fertilizer worth P98.249 million in 2009.

In a 15-page resolution promulgated on Wednesday, the anti-graft court’s third division said Ampatuan and former provincial agriculturist Mosibicak Guiabel failed to raise any compelling argument that would warrant the reversal of its decision on March 10.

“Much of the arguments raised by both accused-movants are a mere rehash of the issues and positions earlier raised by them which were already passed upon, duly considered and resolved by this court,” the third division said.

The court had earlier found Ampatuan guilty of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. Guiabel was found guilty of two counts each of the same offenses.

The two were sentenced to up to 12 years in prison for graft and life imprisonment for malversation of public funds.

They were perpetually disqualified from holding public office and ordered to pay the government the amount found to have been malversed.

In filing the cases in 2019, the Office of the Ombudsman said Ampatuan and Guiabel used falsified disbursement and journal entry vouchers, purchase requests and other supporting documents to make it appear that the agricultural items were delivered and private supplier Tamoni Enterprises had been paid.

In its resolution, the court said the prosecution panel established the fictitious nature of the transactions.

The crime would not have been committed without the respective acts of Ampatuan and Guiabel, the court said.

On May 29, the fifth division affirmed Ampatuan’s conviction for graft and malversation of public funds over the fictitious purchase of food supplies worth P16.3 million.

In a separate resolution promulgated on March 10, the court upheld Ampatuan’s conviction for eight counts each of graft and falsification of public documents over various anomalous transactions, also in 2009.

Ampatuan, who was elected vice mayor of Shariff Saydona town in Maguindanao in last year’s polls, has a standing arrest warrant after he failed to attend the promulgation of judgment on his cases.