Sandigan convicts ex-Oroquieta water district exec

MANILA, Philippines — A former official of a water district in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental was convicted over the unauthorized release of funds amounting to P3 million in 2010.

Evelyn Catharine Silangon, former chairperson of the Oroquieta City Water District, was found guilty of 58 counts of malversation of public documents, according to a 104-page decision of the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division dated May 25.

The 34 counts carry prison terms of up to three years and six months each and the remaining 24 with eight years and eight months each.

The anti-graft court said Silangon is entitled to the “three-fold rule” as provided under Article 70 of the Revised Penal Code. It states that “the maximum duration of the convict’s sentence shall not be more than the three-fold of the length of time corresponding to the most severe of the penalties imposed.”

In this case, the maximum is 26 years or thrice of the eight years and eight months prison term.

Silangon was ordered to pay a fine of P2,924,769.42 or the aggregate amount of the malversed funds. She was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The case stemmed from the release of 77 disbursement vouchers worth almost P5 million to Silangon in 2010.

The prosecution said the officers of the water district received the amounts in the disbursement vouchers, some of which were approved by the same officers.

During trial, Silangon did not deny receiving the funds, saying those were reimbursements for the amounts she incurred and services she rendered.

However, the court said the accused failed to present evidence that she is entitled to professional fees and reimbursement of expenses.

Meanwhile, due to lack of sufficient evidence, Silangon and her co-accused were acquitted of 19 counts of malversation over the same case.