INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Mayor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in Maguindanao has pleaded not guilty in graft and malversation charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan.
Ampatuan made the plea during his arraignment before both the First and Third Divisions of the anti-graft court on Friday.
The graft and malversation charges filed before the Third Division stemmed from the alleged purchase of non-existent fertilizers from Tamoni Enterprises, worth P98.24 million in 2009, when he was still Maguindanao governor.
Other counts of malversation and graft filed before the First Division were about other anomalous multi-million purchases of food supplies from various merchandisers also in 2009.
On May 24, Ampatuan filed a motion seeking to defer his arraignment and dismiss the cases at the Third Division as the Office of the Ombudsman supposedly violated his right to speedy disposition, as it took more than three years to resolve the case.
However, the anti-graft court denied it, as the delay was not a deliberate attempt by the Ombudsman. Ampatuan was set to be arraigned on August 23, but it was rescheduled on Friday to give way for Shariff Saydona Mustapha’s township anniversary celebration.
READ: Sandiganbayan denies motion to dismiss graft charges vs Sajid Ampatuan
Pre-trial proceedings would start on September 27, the anti-graft court said. Ampatuan’s other co-accused have been arraigned previously, while cases against the other accused who have been confirmed dead have been dismissed. /jpv