Biazon to appeal conviction before SC

MANILA, Philippines — Finding relief in the dissenting opinions of two Sandiganbayan associate justices, Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon will appeal his conviction for graft before the Supreme Court.

Biazon expressed confidence that he will eventually be cleared of the charge related to the use of P3 million of his priority development assistance fund or PDAF when he was congressman in 2007.

“I will avail of the legal remedies provided under the law and bring the case before the Supreme Court so that the truth will prevail,” Biazon said in a statement.

“I have faith that the Supreme Court will exhaustively review the application of the law on the facts of the case, and I have confidence that they will find a basis to clear me of the remaining issue, just as I was cleared of bribery and malversation by the Sandiganbayan,” he added.

The Sandiganbayan Special Seventh Division found Biazon, detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and three others guilty for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act – a decision that carries a penalty of up to eight years of imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The case stemmed from Biazon’s endorsement of a bogus non-government organization linked to Napoles for his barangay livelihood projects.

Biazon found relief from the dissenting opinions of Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Lorifel Pahimna and Georgina Hidalgo, who voted against the conviction.

He also cited the dismissal of the malversation charge filed against him and the granting of a demurrer to evidence in the direct bribery case.