Twice convicted ex-Misamis gov faces malversation rap anew

A former governor in Misamis Oriental who has been convicted twice already faces a new malversation charge for failing to liquidate P500,000 in 2002.

In a statement on Thursday, the Office of the Ombudsman indicted former governor Antonio Calingin for malversation for his alleged failure to liquidate P500,000 which was used as a cash advance for the registration of the Misamis Oriental Telephone System Inc. (Misortel) in June 2002.

Also set to face charges is Misortel’s former manager Jusie Roxas.

The Ombudsman found out that Calingin directed Roxas to secure the cash advance. Calingin also admitted to personally receiving the amount.

Calingin likewise failed to show proof he liquidated the amount, the Ombudsman said.

“(R)espondents conspired with each other in committing malversation of public funds,” the Ombudsman said in its resolution.

In 2014, the Sandiganbayan convicted Calingin of malversation and sentenced him to up to 18 years in prison for cannibalizing the motor parts of two Toyota Hi-Lux vehicles which were used as his service vehicles when he was governor.

The missing spare parts of the two vehicles amounted to P2 million.

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In 2013, Calingin was also convicted of graft and was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for giving unwarranted benefit to the family-owned Grain Resources Development Corp.

Calingin allowed the use of the provincial government’s heavy equipment and manpower to repair a three-kilometer road in Bukidnon in 2003. The road led to a farm being developed by the family corporation.

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