THE Sandiganbayan has upheld the November 18, 2022 decision of the Baguio City Regional Trial Court convicting a barangay treasurer of four counts of malversation of public funds for failing to account for cash prizes that were supposed to go to the winners of different sports competitions in 2011.

In a resolution issued September 17, 2024, the Third Division denied the appeal of defendant Romel Beltran, former treasurer of Barangay Camp 7, Baguio City seeking the reversal of the RTC ruling.

Beltran was found guilty of failure to account for P52,000 in cash that was withdrawn from the barangay’s account with Veterans Bank that he was supposed to distribute as cash prizes for the winners of the Sangguniang Kabataan Sportsfest team and individual events.

The charges were based on complaints filed by sportsfest participants who won in basketball, chess (open category), and billiards (youth category) who never saw a centavo of the cash prize.

Testifying in his defense, Beltran claimed he gave the entire amount to SK chairperson Jestoni Buena, saying it was the latter who knew the victors in the various sports events.

Called by the prosecutors to the witness stand, the SK chairperson said the accused only gave him less than half of the P52,000 and had to use his own money to partly make up for the shortage. He said the money was given to him only in 2014, three years after the sports event.

The other events winners likewise testified that they received their prize money in 2014 or 2015 and for some, only part of the promised prize was paid.

An inquiry was held in 2014 after Barangay kagawads got wind of complaints from sportsfest participants that they were cheated of their prize winnings. During the exchanges, Beltran remained silent.

It also turned out that a liquidation was submitted to the Commission on Audit containing the list of the supposed prize money recipients and their signatures. The winners disputed the authenticity of their signatures, insisting they did not sign anything since they never got paid.

In denying the appeal, the Sandiganbayan noted the lack of an explanation from Beltran on why he only released the money in 2014 when the sportsfest took place in 2011.

Likewise, the court gave little credence to his claim that he gave the money to the SK chairperson, noting that the distribution of the cash prizes was his duty as barangay treasurer.

“Beltran insisted that he gave Buena the full amount, however, his claim is without evidentiary support. He did not even ask Buena to sign any acknowledgment receipt,” the Sandiganbayan pointed out.

Beltran never denied that he received the full amount and that the funds were his accountability.

Furthermore, he was given ample time by the barangay council to explain the whereabouts of the money with various demand letters but he chose to ignore them.

“The barangay council sent Beltran letters, requiring him to explain the matter. Beltran, however, chose not to submit an explanation. Even in the meetings where he was asked to clarify the issue, Beltran just kept silent. It cannot be said that there was no demand upon him,” the Sandiganbayan pointed out.

Beltran was sentenced to a total of two years and eight months imprisonment with fines amounting to P11,300 and civil liability of P6,300 in civil liability.