Misuari’s conviction for graft upheld

MANILA, Philippines —  The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari in connection with the anomalous procurement of P77.26-million information technology equipment when he was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a 24-page resolution promulgated on Tuesday, the anti-graft court’s Third Division denied Misuari’s appeal, which sought the reversal of the ruling finding him guilty of two counts of violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The court also denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Misuari’s six co-accused – former ARMM education chief Leovigilda Cinches, accountants Pangalian Maniri and Alladin Usi, supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman, former ARMM resident auditor Nader Macagaan and private supplier Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing.

The Third Division said it found no compelling reason in the defendants’ motions that could warrant the reversal of the ruling.

Earlier, the court sentenced Misuari, Cinches, Maniri, Usi and Usman to six to eight years in prison for each count of the offense or a total of 12 to 16 years for two counts.

Macagan and Ramirez were each sentenced to six to eight years in prison for one count of the offense.

The Sandiganbayan permanently barred the defendants from holding public office.

Misuari and his co-defendants are currently out on bail as the decision may still be appealed before the Supreme Court.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2017, the cases stemmed from payments made by the ARMM, now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, of P31 million to the MBJ Learning Tools and P46.26 million to CPR Publishing in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

The payments were for the supposed supply of information technology packages, which were intended for distribution to public elementary and high schools in the region.

The ombudsman said none of the supposedly purchased materials was delivered.

Napoles cleared

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Janet Lim-Napoles of graft and malversation involving the pork barrel of a former congressman of La Union.

The anti-graft court’s Second Division said the prosecution failed to present proof that Napoles misused P5 million in congressional funds of former La Union representative Victor Ortega.

Napoles was acquitted of one count each of violation of RA 3019 and malversation of public funds as defined and penalized under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

Despite her acquittal, Napoles will remain imprisoned at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong as she was earlier convicted of plunder and multiple counts of graft in connection with the misuse of P517-million pork funds of Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.