Ex-Maguindanao governor pleads not guilty to graft, malversation

MANILA, Philippines — Former Maguindanao governor and now Shariff Saydona Mustapha Mayor Sajid Islam Ampatuan has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan. 

Ampatuan was arraigned yesterday before the anti-graft court’s first division for four counts each of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.  

The cases stemmed from the  provincial government’s alleged fictitious purchase of food supplies in 2009 amounting to P79.751 million. 

Ampatuan is facing another set of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents charges before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.

The cases were in connection with the disbursement of P98,249,850 on June 3, 2009, supposedly as payment to a private supplier for the procurement of palay and corn seeds as well as fertilizers.

The court granted Ampatuan’s request to postpone his arraignment from Aug. 23 to yesterday to attend the anniversary celebration of his town.

A co-accused in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009, Ampatuan was freed on bail in 2015.