FORMER Iloilo Rep. Niel “Junjun” Tupas Jr.’s appeal to the July 26, 2022 resolution of the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division that denied his motion to challenge the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence has landed him in more trouble.
In a six-age resolution dated August 31, 2022, the anti-graft court said its review of the evidence prompted by Tupas’ motion for reconsideration only convinced it that the prosecution “played its cards right.”
“Through the instant motion of accused Tupas, the Court was afforded an opportunity to take a second hard look on the entirety of the evidence presented… and it is not looking good for the accused,” the Sandiganbayan said.
Associate Justice Lorifel Lacap Pahimna penned the resolution with Associate Justices Michael Fredrick L. Musngi and Bayani H. Jacinto concurring.
Tupas is charged with one count each of graft and malversation of public funds in relation to the alleged fraudulent release of P5 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” allocations in 2008.
Prosecutors said the money went into Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay Para sa Masa Foundation Inc. (KKAMFI), a dubious non-government organization (NGO), but using National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor) as a conduit.
Named co-defendants were former Nabcor president Alan A. Javellana, former Administrative and Finance head Rhodora Mendoza, former General Services Unit head Romulo Relevo, accountant Ma. Julie A. Villaralvo-Johnson and private defendant Marilou Antonio, project coordinator for KKAMFI.
While the PDAF was supposed to fund agricultural assistance programs for Iloilo farmers through the distribution of hand tractors, water pumps and grafted fruit seedlings, corruption investigators said the money were instead pocketed by the defendants.
