Ex-president of state-run Zambo school guilty of graft

MANILA, Philippines - A former president of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) has been found guilty of malversation of public funds.

The Sandiganbayan sentenced ex-ZSCMST president Enrie Caraecle to a maximum of 12 years in jail for pocketing rental payments for a school property in 2003.

Caraecle was also ordered him to pay P30,000 fine with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.

Caraecle has gone into hiding after he was ordered arrested for the murder of state auditor Vilma Agias seven years ago.   

The Office of the Ombudsman indicted Caraecle after he was found to have received two checks amounting to P15,000 each from Western Mindanao Community Initiative Projects.

The money was for the rental of a facility used in a livelihood program of the Department of Agrarian Reform. Caraecle, however, deposited the money in his personal bank account.