Court affirms Pichay conviction

Surigao del Sur 1st Dist. Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. of graft for the misuse of P780 million in public funds during his time as head of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in connection with the buyout of a thrift bank.

The antigraft court’s Fourth Division also maintained the graft conviction of Wilfredo Feleo Jr., who was then-LWUA deputy administrator under Pichay, as it threw out their motions for partial reconsideration for lack of merit after they were found guilty of three counts of graft in June.

This was over the irregular acquisition of a 60 percent stake in Express Savings Bank Inc. amounting to millions in 2009. —DEMPSEY REYES