Sandiganbayan rejects convicted ex-state university dean’s request for new trial

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has rejected the request of a former dean of the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) for a new trial, more than a month after she was convicted of two counts of graft.

In the resolution released last March 14, the Seventh Division junked the motion for reconsideration filed by former SLSU College of Allied Medicine Dean Susana Salvacion, citing that her arguments were already discussed in the decision.

Salvacion was convicted of graft after she allowed Nurmed Hyperlearn Review and Tutorial Services — which she owns — to conduct review classes inside the school auditorium in Lucban, Quezon province.

It was also proven that she endorsed her review center to nursing students taking the licensure exams.

READ: Ex-state university dean convicted for tapping own review center

“This Court maintains its findings as stated in the said Decision which were not successfully overcome with justifiable arguments in accused Salvacion’s motion for reconsideration,” the resolution, written by Associate Justice Georgina Hidalgo and concurred by Associate Justices Ma. Theresa Gomez-Estoesta and Zaldy Trespeses, read.

“Curtly said, the arguments raised were already passed upon by this Court in the assailed Decision,” it added.

According to Salvacion, she never acted with bad faith when she allowed her review center to operate inside SLSU.

However, the court dismissed this and Salvacion’s claim that her actions helped nursing students.

“The Court believes that this has nothing to do with the crime charged,” the court said. “And therefore cannot be used to exempt her from criminal liability.”

With the resolution, Salvacion’s jail sentence of six years and one month up to eight years for each count and her disqualification from public office still stands. /ee