MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan convicted former Mayor Teofilo Pantaleon Jr. of Castillejos town in Zambales for misusing public funds intended for the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) office’s construction and renovation on October 1997.
In a 16-page decision, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division found Pantaleon guilty of malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.
He was ordered to serve four years and two months up to eight years and one day in prison. He was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Both Pantaleon and Municipal Treasurer Jaime Vallejos were accused of conspiring after they supposedly falsified disbursement vouchers, certificates of inspection and acceptance to pay Chellette Construction (CC) dues worth P105,211.83 for the said project.
CC Operations Manager Richel Rivera testified that he had a verbal agreement with Pantaleon and other SB members to perform additional work on the office, which was not covered by the original project by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
However, Pantaleon was not authorized by the SB members to issue checks as payment for CC. The former local executive also did not include supporting documents in the issuance of the check, such as the disbursement voucher, making him liable for malversation.
CC was also not paid after completing the work, and even as the municipal government had already disbursed the check.
“This only shows that Pantaleon Jr. and Vallejos misappropriated the amount covered by the Check No. 0108404 and used the proceeds thereof for some other purpose,” Sandiganbayan said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Bayani Jacinto.
“The moment they took the check but failed to give it to Chellette Construction as payment, the malversation was completed and consummated,” the decision added.
The case against Vallejos was dismissed following his death. On the other hand, Rivera was acquitted from the case because the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the crime.
“As to accused Rivera, the Court notes that he had no participation in the preparation of the check, its release, and subsequent disbursement,” the decision concurred by the Associate Justices Alex Quiroz and Reynaldo Cruz explained.
“Thus, although he is charged to have acted in conspiracy with the two accused, the evidence suggests otherwise,” it added./lb