Sandiganbayan affirms Nueva Vizcaya mayor’s conviction

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Jerry Pasigian of Alfonso Castañeda town in Nueva Vizcaya will have to spend time in prison over the municipal government’s anomalous purchase of a vehicle, which he also failed to immediately return when his term ended in 2013.

In a resolution promulgated on Feb. 20 and obtained by reporters yesterday, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division affirmed its ruling finding Pasigian guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public property under the Revised Penal Code.

The court said Pasigian’s motion to reverse its ruling is ”unmeritorious.”

Pasigian was sentenced to a minimum of six years to up to 15 years in prison for graft and four to seven years for malversation of public property.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of P453,214.29 and was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Based on the charge sheet, the municipal government purchased a 2003 model of a Nissan Patrol worth P1.3 million in 2009 from a certain Gilbert Arellano without public bidding.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Pasigian registered the car under his name instead of the municipal government.

The vehicle was returned on June 23, 2014 after repeated demands, but the prosecution said Pasigian attempted to sell it to a certain Ben Polig and received a partial payment of P250,000.

“It does not matter if... he was able to turn over to the municipality the custody of the vehicle... misappropriation has been committed,” the court said.