Former mayor won’t appeal graft conviction

Citing a “change of heart,” a former mayor and incumbent councilor of Caibiran, Biliran, has decided not to appeal his second graft conviction by the Sandiganbayan.

Melchor Maderazo, in an Aug. 9 motion, told the antigraft court’s Third Division that he would serve his sentence of six to eight years in prison meted out to him on June 29.

Thus, he was withdrawing his July 18 motion for reconsideration of the decision.

“Accused Melchor Maderazo had a change of heart and [is] no longer interested to pursue his motion for reconsideration and wants to serve the sentence as embodied in the decision dated June 29, 2017,” read the motion filed through lawyer Rodolfo Tagapan Jr.

Maderazo was found guilty of illegally receiving P305,481.06 in back salaries and allowances for the period of September 2002 to September 2003, when he was under suspension. This violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. —Vince F. Nonato