MANILA, Philippines - Former Misamis Oriental governor Antonio Calingin has been sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for not returning two government vehicles assigned to his office.
In a decision promulgated by the Sandiganbayan on Dec. 4, the anti-graft court also ordered Calingin to pay a fine of P2,082,385 and suffer perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Records show that two Toyota 4x4 Hi-Lux vehicles worth P2,082,385 were assigned to Calingin when he was governor from July 1998 to July 2004.
Calingin did not return the vehicles despite two demand letters sent to him in 2004.
A team organized by former governor Oscar Moreno discovered that the vehicles, which were cannibalized, were kept in a warehouse in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.
In 2003, the Office of the President also found Calingin guilty of dishonesty, gross negligence and grave misconduct, and suspended him for six months without pay.