Ex-Ecija town mayor gets 16 years for malversation

MANILA, Philippines —  A former municipal mayor in Nueva Ecija has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for failing to liquidate his cash advances amounting to P3.5 million.

In a 31-page decision promulgated on Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan found former mayor Blas Canlas of Laur town guilty of malversation of public funds as provided under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division sentenced Canlas to 10 years and one day to 16 years, five months and 11 days in prison, and disqualified him from holding public office.

The court ordered Canlas to indemnify the municipal government P3.5 million or the equivalent of the amount of public funds he allegedly malversed.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, the case stemmed from Canlas’ failure to liquidate his cash advances in 2006 despite repeated demands by the Commission on Audit (COA).

The anti-graft court said Canlas claimed he liquidated his cash advances, but failed to present any proof.

Aside from his bare denial, Canlas did not show proof that he submitted liquidation vouchers, receipts or any document to support his claims.

The ombudsman’s prosecution panel was able to present sufficient evidence showing that Canlas received the demand letters and audit reports sent by the COA.

There was sufficient evidence showing Canlas approved his own cash advances without the required signature of the municipal accountant in the disbursement vouchers, the Sandiganbayan said.

Mayor nabbed  for extortion  released

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday confirmed the release from detention of Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. of San Simon, Pampanga, who was arrested last month on allegations of extortion.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 granted the habeas corpus petition filed by the mayor’s camp after ruling that there was no legal basis to continue holding the accused.

At a press conference, resigned NBI director Jaime Santiago said the ombudsman has yet to act on a resolution earlier issued by Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.

The ombudsman’s failure to immediately act on the resolution created a legal gap that Punsalan’s lawyers used to seek his release.

“When the court asked why he was still detained or if the case had been filed, we could present that the resolution was already with the ombudsman. But when the court asked for information, we had nothing to show,” Santiago said.

He said a resolution alone is not enough to keep a person in custody.

“The judge ordered us to release the mayor. He was released, but the case is still there,” he said.

Santiago said the ombudsman must act on the resolution and elevate the case to the Sandiganbayan before a warrant of arrest could be issued. 

He said that if Punsalan would be rearrested, the mayor may still post bail since the charges are bailable.

Punsalan was arrested on Aug. 5 after he allegedly accepted the initial amount of P30 million in bribe money from a steel company in exchange for a favorable resolution from the local government.

Punsalan allegedly demanded P80 million from the company.          –  Mark Ernest Villeza

Ex-Ecija town mayor gets 16 years for malversation

elizabeth marcelo

MANILA, Philippines —  A former municipal mayor in Nueva Ecija has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for failing to liquidate his cash advances amounting to P3.5 million.

In a 31-page decision promulgated on Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan found former mayor Blas Canlas of Laur town guilty of malversation of public funds as provided under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division sentenced Canlas to 10 years and one day to 16 years, five months and 11 days in prison, and disqualified him from holding public office.

The court ordered Canlas to indemnify the municipal government P3.5 million or the equivalent of the amount of public funds he allegedly malversed.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, the case stemmed from Canlas’ failure to liquidate his cash advances in 2006 despite repeated demands by the Commission on Audit (COA).

The anti-graft court said Canlas claimed he liquidated his cash advances, but failed to present any proof.

Aside from his bare denial, Canlas did not show proof that he submitted liquidation vouchers, receipts or any document to support his claims.

The ombudsman’s prosecution panel was able to present sufficient evidence showing that Canlas received the demand letters and audit reports sent by the COA.

There was sufficient evidence showing Canlas approved his own cash advances without the required signature of the municipal accountant in the disbursement vouchers, the Sandiganbayan said.

Mayor nabbed  for extortion  released

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday confirmed the release from detention of Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. of San Simon, Pampanga, who was arrested last month on allegations of extortion.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 granted the habeas corpus petition filed by the mayor’s camp after ruling that there was no legal basis to continue holding the accused.

At a press conference, resigned NBI director Jaime Santiago said the ombudsman has yet to act on a resolution earlier issued by Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.

The ombudsman’s failure to immediately act on the resolution created a legal gap that Punsalan’s lawyers used to seek his release.

“When the court asked why he was still detained or if the case had been filed, we could present that the resolution was already with the ombudsman. But when the court asked for information, we had nothing to show,” Santiago said.

He said a resolution alone is not enough to keep a person in custody.

“The judge ordered us to release the mayor. He was released, but the case is still there,” he said.

Santiago said the ombudsman must act on the resolution and elevate the case to the Sandiganbayan before a warrant of arrest could be issued. 

He said that if Punsalan would be rearrested, the mayor may still post bail since the charges are bailable.

Punsalan was arrested on Aug. 5 after he allegedly accepted the initial amount of P30 million in bribe money from a steel company in exchange for a favorable resolution from the local government.

Punsalan allegedly demanded P80 million from the company. –  Mark Ernest Villeza