Sarangani board member acquitted

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has reversed its earlier decision convicting a Sarangani provincial board member for malversation of public funds.

In a ruling on Monday, the anti-graft court’s First Division set aside its resolution last Jan. 30, which sent provincial board member Cornelio Martinez Jr. to jail after finding him guilty.

Although it cleared Martinez, the Sandiganbayan affirmed its decision against another accused, Eugene Alzate, who also ran and won in the last elections under Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s People’s Champ Movement.

The two officials, along with former provincial board members Lelibeth Canillo-Prospero, Hernando Sibugan, Juanito Purisima, Marlind Marcelo, Redempto Abiso and Jesus Desedilla, and former executive assistant Amelia Constantino-Zoleta, were accused of misappropriating P475,000 in public funds in 2002. 

The anti-graft court said the prosecution’s evidence showed that Martinez was not among those who discussed where the fund would be drawn and how the fraud would be concealed.

The Sandiganbayan said it would be “pure speculation to conclude that Martinez knew and approved” the transaction, thus he is entitled to an acquittal.