Manila ex-barangay chief gets 16 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — A former barangay chairman in Manila was sentenced to up to 16 years in prison over the encashment of checks amounting to P223,800 drawn from the barangay’s budget without supporting documents.

In a 30-page decision promulgated yesterday, the Sandiganbayan First Division upheld the ruling of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 40, finding Felix Mones, former chairman of Barangay 410 in the city’s first district, guilty of two counts of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The anti-graft court, however, modified Mones’ sentence to up to eight years in prison for each count of the offense, for a total of 16 years.

In the original decision of the RTC, Mones was sentenced to up to six years in prison for each count of the offense.

The Sandiganbayan upheld Mones’ perpetual disqualification from holding public office. He was also ordered to reimburse the barangay P223,800, equivalent to the amount he unlawfully encashed.

The case stemmed from Mones’ encashment of checks worth P89,200 and P134,600 at the Philippine National Bank branch along Recto Avenue in Manila on Nov. 12 and Nov. 17, 2010, respectively. The amounts were drawn from Barangay 410’s bank account.

Ombudsman prosecutors said Mones named himself as the payee of both checks, without any corresponding disbursement vouchers.

In upholding his conviction, the First Division said the prosecution established Mones’ “bad faith” when he failed to account for the proceeds of the two checks.

The anti-graft court found no merit in Mones’ claim that his signature on both checks was forged.