Ex-gov, 5 others convicted of graft

ALABEL, Sarangani—After nine years, officials and employees tagged as either masterminds or conspirators in the systematic looting of hard-earned taxpayers’ money were convicted by the Sandiganbayan.

The Sandiganbayan 1st Division confirmed on Thursday that former Sarangani Governor Miguel Escobar and five other accused were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the provincial government of P41 million.

The case stemmed from findings of the Commission on Audit that Escobar and the other officials released funds to ghost cooperatives and nongovernment organizations in 2003.

In a 63-page decision, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada meted out 10 years to 18 years and eight months imprisonment, a total fine of P300,000 and perpetual disqualification from government service on Escobar, former provincial treasurer Cesar Cagang and management and audit analyst Vivencia Telesforo.

In the same decision, Ponferrada also convicted former provincial administrator Perla Maglinte, executive assistant Amelia Carmela Constantino-Zoleta and incumbent provincial board member Eugene Alzate for estafa through falsification of public documents. They were sentenced to 10 to 11 years and four months jail term with a fine of P5,000.

In a phone interview, Alzate, who is being groomed by Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao as vice gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Champ Movement party, said they would file a motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan.

Alzate assailed the decision, saying “I was charged with malversation, I don’t understand why I was convicted for estafa.”

He admitted that he and the other accused except Zoleta were present at the Sandiganbayan during the promulgation last Wednesday.

When the controversy broke out sometime in the middle of 2003, groups in Sarangani province led by the late Fr. Fred Maghanoy closed ranks and formed an anticorruption coalition.

The group, dubbed Sarangani People’s Action for Reform and Good Governance (Spare Go), was composed of representatives from religious, farmer, professional, fisherfolk, labor, transport and youth groups.

Spare Go on Sept. 16, 2003 filed administrative and criminal charges against Escobar and the other accused before the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao.

“We should teach these officials a lesson so future elected officials would serve the province with sincerity and decency,” Maghanoy then said.  Aquiles Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao