THE Sandiganbayan yesterday acquitted former Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino while convicting a former officer of the National Agri-Business Corp (Nabcor) on two counts each of graft and malversation of public funds.
The charges involved the alleged fraudulent handling of P14.55 million of the lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” fund allocations in 2007.
Encarnita Cristina Munsod, a former Nabcor human resources supervisor, was sentenced to six to seven years for each count of graft or a total of 12 to 14 years with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
She was also meted 10 to 17 years for the first malversation charge and six to ten years for the second one or a total of 16 to 27 years.
On top of the prison term, Munsod was also fined P14.55 million and was ordered to pay the national treasury P14.55 as civil liability.
The court held that the body of evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to establish Antonino’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on August 24, 2017, alleged that Antonino’s PDAF went to bogus livelihood projects supposedly implemented by the non-government organization (NGO) Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation Inc (BMMKFI).
Graft investigators said the pork barrel funds were earmarked for the purchase and distribution of livelihood training kits to poor residents of Antonino’s legislative district but the project only existed on paper.
Prosecutors added that local government officials of Gapan City and the municipalities of San Isidro, General Tinio, Cabiao, Jaen, Peñaranda, and San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija denied receiving any of the livelihood training kits.
While the BMMKFI supposedly purchased 7,275 sets of LTKs worth P2,000 each from C. C. Barredo Enterprises, no list of the beneficiaries or a detailed liquidation report was submitted.
The court also ordered arrest warrants issued against former Nabcor president Alan Javellana and private persons Marilou Antonio and Carmelita Barredo who remain at large.
