Sandiganbayan finds Napoles, 2 ex-govt execs guilty of graft, malversation

The Sandiganbayan Special Third Division has found Janet Napoles and two other former government officials guilty of graft, malversation of public funds, and two counts of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

This was in connection with the unlawful use of around P29 million worth of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or discretionary fund of former senator Gregorio Honasan from 2009 to 2010.

Aside from Napoles, the two others convicted of the said offenses were former National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) president Gondelina Amata (Salary Grade 30) and Honasan’s former chief political officer Michael Lim Benjamin (Salary Grade 29).

The three were each sentenced to spend 12 to 17 years in jail for their malversation conviction involving P4.05 million of Honasan’s PDAF, on top of perpetual disqualification from public office and revocation of retirement benefits. 

They were also slapped a fine worth P4.05 million, on top of jointly and separately returning P4.05 million to the Bureau of Treasury which shall earn legal interest at the rate of 6% per annum, computed from the finality of the decision, until it is fully paid.

As for their conviction on three counts of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, the amounts involved were P7.5 million, P1.5 million and P1.5 million.

Each conviction on malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents carries a jail time of 12 to 17 years, a fine equivalent to the amount malversed to be paid by each  convicted individual, as well as perpetual disqualification from public office.

Likewise, each conviction on malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents requires the convicted individuals to the jointly and separately return P7.5 million, P1.5 million, and P1.5 million to the Bureau of Treasury which shall earn legal interest at the rate of 6% per annum, computed from the finality of the decision, until it is fully paid.

For the graft conviction involving P14.55 million, Napoles, Amata, and Benjamin were each sentenced to six to 10 years in jail

The legal counsels of Amata and Benjamin both said they will appeal the decision and asked the court to maintain the P510,000 surety bond as a condition for their provisional liberty.

Amata and Benjamin were present during the promulgation, while Napoles, who is in detention in Women's Correctional in Mandaluyong, attended the promulgation online. 

Napoles will remain in detention since she has previous plunder convictions, among other convictions in other cases also in connection with illegal use of PDAF.

Former senator Gregorio Honasan was not included among those charged. —AOL, GMA Integrated News