FOR MALVERSATION: Ex-Zambales mayor meted 3 life terms

The Sandiganbayan sentenced a former mayor of Castillejos, Zambales, along with his former treasurer, to three life terms for three counts of malversation of public funds amounting to more than P400,000.

In a 30-page decision, the anti-graft court’s fourth division, chaired by Associate Justice Gregory Ong, also ordered former Castillejos mayor Teofilo Pantaleon and treasurer Jaime Vallejos to pay a fine of P411,341.20 each.

The court also barred Pantaleon and Vallejos from holding public office for life.

The malversation charges against them stemmed from their involvement in "ghost" construction projects from January to March 1998.

These non-existent projects included the supposed upgrading of roads in four barangays and the construction of stalls in the Castillejos public market. – Jose Rodel Clapano