Ex-RTC clerks get 13 years for P1.4 million malversation

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of two former clerks of the Lipa City Regional Trial Court for pocketing P1.365 million worth of court collections by tampering with remittance receipts and other documents.

In a 13-page resolution promulgated on Jan. 30, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division said former clerks Donabel Savadera and Ma. Evelyn Landicho failed to raise any new meritorious argument in their motions to reconsider the Oct. 23, 2025 decision.

The court found the two guilty of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

Savadera and Landicho were sentenced to six to 13 years of imprisonment and ordered to pay P1.365 million, representing the amount of funds malversed.

“It is evident that the motions for reconsideration merely reiterate arguments already considered and resolved by the court. The belated challenge to the admissibility of the evidence is unavailing,” a part of the decision read.

The case stemmed from their alleged failure to account for the missing collections of various court fees from Dec. 1, 2003 to March 8, 2004.

Ombudsman prosecutors said Savadera and Landicho tampered with old receipts to make it appear that the collections were remitted to the court’s account with Land Bank of the Philippines in full and on time, “when in truth and in fact, they were not.”