The Sandiganbayan on Friday convicted former Bukidnon Rep. Candido Pancrudo Jr. and a co-respondent to a maximum of 43 years in prison and ordered to repay the government the P7.954 million, plus interest, he had malversed.
The case stemmed from the diversion of funds from his congressional allotments to a bogus organization, similar to the pork barrel fund scam associated with convicted felon Janet Lim-Napoles.
The court also meted the same sentence on Pancrudo’s co-respondent Mark Espinosa.
The court, however, acquitted three former National Agribusiness Corp. officials—Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez Guañizo, and Victor Roman Cacal—of graft but were convicted for malversation. —DEMPSEY REYES
READ: Ex-Bukidnon solon charged in P36.9-million pork scam