Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 13) — Former Maguindanao governor Sajid Ampatuan has been found guilty of graft and falsification of public documents over ghost construction projects in 2009.
The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division handed out the verdict Friday morning, though Ampatuan was nowhere to be found.
Ampatuan’s lawyer said his client is in Maguindanao due to gout, a form of arthritis.
A warrant of arrest has been issued against him following his conviction. He was sentenced to a minimum of 65 to a maximum of 112 years imprisonment.
“Accused Sajid acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and gross inexcusable negligence when he authorized orders and payments for fuel and lubricant products despite the absence of public bidding,” the anti-graft court said.
Sajid was charged along with his brother Andal Ampatuan Jr. for awarding over ₱22 million worth of supply contracts to Shariff Aguak Petron station owned by Andal Jr. without holding public bidding.
The contracts supposedly covered the supply of fuel and lubricants to various infrastructure projects, which were later found to be fictitious.
However, Andal Jr., who is currently serving his sentence for the Maguindanao massacre at the New Bilibid Prison, was acquitted due to the prosecution’s failure to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Meanwhile, former provincial and project engineers Yahiya Kandong, Omar Camsa, Anthony Kasan, Akmad Salim and Jaypee Piang were also found guilty in the falsification charges.
