Detained ex-mayor to serve new prison term

MANILA, Philippines -  A former town mayor in Biliran who is serving his sentence for graft is no longer appealing his conviction in another case.

In a motion filed before the Sandiganbayan on Aug. 9, Melchor Maderazo, now councilor of Caibiran, said he had a “change of heart.”

“Considering that Melchor Maderazo is presently detained at the National Penitentiary for a prior conviction...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 recently sentenced to a maximum of eight years in prison for receiving salaries and allowances amounting to P305,481.06 from September 2002 to September 2003 while he was under preventive suspension for another graft case.

Municipal budget officer Dionisio Veruen Jr. and municipal accountant Orlando Salentes Jr. were also found guilty of graft for approving and processing Maderazo’s salary request.

Maderazo was convicted of graft in May 2013 in connection with the anomalous purchase of 400 tapping saddles for the town’s water system. He was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison. The court said the saddles amounting to P160,000 were never delivered.

The Supreme Court affirmed the Sandiganbayan ruling in July 2015.