Convicted ex-Biliran mayor withdraws appeal, agrees to serve jail sentence

MANILA, Philippines — Melchor Maderazo, a former mayor of Caibiran in Biliran province has decided to withdrawal his motion for reconsideration and instead agreed to serve his jail sentence for a graft case in connection with illegal receipt of salaries for one year while he was under preventive suspension.

In a motion dated August 9, Maderazo, an incumbent councilor of Caibiran, told the Sandiganbayan Third Division that he had a “change of heart and no longer interested to pursue his motion for reconsideration” filed on July 18.

Maderazo said he instead would like to serve the jail sentence of a minimum of six years to a maximum of eight years as embodied in the Third Division's decision on June 29, 2017 finding him guilty of graft.

The case stemmed from Maderazo's receipt of P305,481.06 in back salaries and allowances for September 2002 to September 2003, a period when he was placed by the Sandiganbayan under preventive suspension for another graft case and by the municipal council for administrative complaint of grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority.

The court said Maderazo “is not entitled to back salaries for period of his suspension because he did not actually render services.”

Also found guilty by the Third Division were municipal budget officer Dionisio Veruen Jr. and municipal accountant Orlando Salentes Jr. for approving and processing Maderazo's salary request.

Maderazo said that since he is already in prison for a previous graft case, he would no longer appeal the new conviction.

“Considering that Melchor Maderazo is presently detained at the National Penitentiary for a prior conviction in another case, he moves that with the withdrawal of his motion for reconsideration, he now be considered as serving his sentence regarding his conviction in the instant case,” Maderazo's motion read.

Maderazo was convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan's First Division in May 2013 in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of 400 tapping saddles for the municipality's water system. He was sentenced to a maximum of ten years in jail. The court concurred with the prosecution that saddles amounting P160,000, procured through negotiated contract, were never delivered.

The Supreme Court affirmed the Sandiganbayan's decision in July 2015.