Ex-Sarangani governor convicted for anomalous rice distribution
Former governor Miguel Escobar of Sarangani and provincial agriculturist Romeo Miole are facing 10 to 18 years of imprisonment after the Sandiganbayan 3rd division found them guilty of Malversation of Public Funds. Atty. Escobar and Miole were held criminally liable for misappropriating 1,875 sacks of rice intended for victims of the La Niña. Ombudsman prosecutors proved that the sacks of rice were diverted and given to barangay and municipal officials one week prior to the 2002 elections.
Escobar and Miole were also meted out the accessory penalties of perpetual special disqualification from holding any public office, and were ordered to pay a fine of P1.44 million.
In 2001, the provincial government adopted the Sagip Taniman Project for the livelihood rehabilitation of farmers affected by the La Niña. To implement the project, Escobar approved the disbursement voucher (DV), purchase request, purchase order, requisition and issue slip for 1,875 sacks of rice amounting to P1.44 million intended for farmers and fisher folk. Miole prepared the project design and certified in the DV that the expenses were necessary and lawful.
The anti-graft court said that in “allowing the distribution of the sacks of rice to the municipal and barangay officials, [Escobar] consented to the appropriation by persons who were not the listed beneficiaries of the program.â€
It also junked Escobar’s contention that he came to know of such fact only after the distribution of the sacks of rice. The court highlighted that “it finds it hard to believe that a project involving the distribution of 1,875 sacks of rice that took place in his province and which he is duty bound to supervise would escape his attention. It would even be considered as an admission of his negligence because even after learning of the distribution of the sacks of rice, he did not do anything.â€
Ombudsman prosecutors presented the State Auditor from the Commission on Audit who testified that “the program resulted in wastage and misuse of government funds.â€
Malversation of public funds is committed by a public officer who has custody and control of public funds or property by reason his official duties, and misappropriates, consents or through abandonment or negligence, permits another person to take them.
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