Ampatuan’s graft conviction upheld

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of former Maguindanao governor Sajid Ampatuan in connection with the allegedly fictitious purchase of food supplies worth P16.3 million in 2009.

In a resolution promulgated on July 19, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division refused to give due course to Ampatuan’s motion, which sought to reverse an earlier decision finding him guilty of graft and malversation of public funds.

The court said Amptuan lost his privilege to appeal his conviction as he failed to surrender to authorities within 15 days from the promulgation of judgment on May 5.

“The failure of the respondent to regain his standing in court rendered the judgment of conviction against him final and immutable,” the Fifth Division said as it denied Ampatuan’s motion.

Ampatuan and his lawyer were absent during the promulgation of judgment.

The anti-graft court earlier issued an arrest warrant against Ampatuan as he failed to present himself before the court even after he was informed of his conviction.

The law states that an accused who fails to attend the promulgation of his case may regain his good standing in court if he surrenders within 15 days from the date of promulgation and file a motion for leave to avail himself of the legal remedies.

The Fifth Division said that Ampatuan lost his standing in court and failed to regain such prior to the filing of the motion.

Ampatuan was sentenced to six to 10 years in prison for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act along with former provincial budget officer and bids and awards committee member Datu Ali Abpi.

The defendants were disqualified from holding public office. They were also sentenced to 10 to 18 years in prison for malversation of public funds as provided under the Revised Penal Code.

Ampatuan and Abpi were each ordered to pay the government P16.33 million, which is equivalent to the amount of public funds they reportedly malversed.

The case was filed in 2017 by the Office of the Ombudsman, which said the food purchases did not happen as the supplier was fictitious or non-existent.

The respondents allegedly misappropriated the funds “for themselves,” according to the ombudsman.

Ampatuan was elected vice mayor of Shariff Saydona town during the May 2022 general elections.