FOR the fourth time in five months, the Sandiganbayan has convicted former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan of corruption charges this time in relation to ghost procurements of food supplies worth P16.32 million in 34 transactions from February to September 2009.
In a 75-page decision promulgated May 5, 2023, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division sentenced Ampatuan to six to ten years for graft and 10 to 18 years for malversation of public funds or a total of 16 to 28 years.
Also convicted in both charges was former Maguindanao budget officer Datu Ali Abpi who was meted the same jail terms.
They were also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of P16,317,559 equivalent to the amount malversed.
However, both were acquitted of 34 counts of falsification of public documents due to insufficient evidence.
Based on the 2017 indictment from the Office of the Ombudsman, Ampatuan and Abpi were accused of defrauding the provincial coffers by making it appear that a payment was made to Henry Merchandising in the sum of P16,317,559 supposedly for deliveries of food items between February 2 to September 30, 2009.
Evidence presented by prosecutors during trial however showed the supposed supplier was non-existent which led to the finding that the procurement was bogus.
In convicting both accused, the Sandiganbayan noted that the defense failed to present any evidence to show that the transactions were legitimate, although Ampatuan disowned his signatures on the disbursement vouchers.
“The Prosecution’s evidence sufficiently proved that the province of Maguindanao disbursed the said amount to Henry Merchandising, a non-existing entity, for goods that were not actually delivered,” the court declared.
Two other accused, Bids and Awards Committee members John Estelito Dollosa and Osmeña Bandila remain at large, prompting the court to order their cases archived pending their arrest.
This was the fourth time that Ampatuan was convicted of multiple charges in just the first five months of the year.
On January 13, 2023, the Fifth Division found him guilty of eight counts each of graft and falsification of public documents pertaining to bogus procurement of fuel from a gasoline station he owned in Shariff Aguak.
He was meted to 48 to 64 years for graft and 16 to 48 years for falsification and was required to pay P22.37 million in civil indemnity to the province of Maguindanao on top of P40,000 in fines.
On February 9, 2023, the Sixth Division convicted him on four counts each of graft and malversation of public funds and 126 counts of falsification in relation to bogus procurement of construction materials from four bogus suppliers.
Ampatuan was ordered to pay P67.83 million in fines and P67.19 million in civil liability.
The court sentenced him to a total of 24 to 40 years for graft, 68 to 72 years for malversation, and 756 to 882 years for falsification.
On March 10, 2023, the Third Division handed down reclusion perpetua against Ampatuan for malversation of public funds and another eight to twelve years for graft in relation to fake purchases of palay and corn seeds, as well as fertilizers from a supplier who denied having any transaction with the provincial government.
The former governor was likewise directed to pay P98.5 million in fines, and the same amount for civil liability subject to six percent annual interest until fully paid.
