SC affirms Ampatuan sentence in graft case

The Supreme Court building is viewed from its closed gateway. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has affirmed the Sandiganbayan’s reclusion perpetua sentence on former Maguindanao Gov. Sajid Islam Ampatuan in 2019 for malversation of P35.7 million in public funds back in 2008.

The Supreme Court First Division also affirmed the same sentence handed down by the antigraft court on March 22, 2019, on Ampatuan’s coaccused, former provincial budget officer Datuali Ampi.

The case stemmed from a Commission on Audit complaint in 2014 that P35.7 million in cash advances were released from the province’s funds from 2008 to 2009 to a nonexistent construction firm for ghost school repairs.

—DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN

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