Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24) — Former Cortes, Bohol Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy was found guilty of corruption over cash advances she made to cover personal travel expenses amounting to over ₱20,000 in 2010.
On Jan. 20, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division convicted Balistoy of graft and falsification of public documents.
She was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years to a maximum of 48 years imprisonment and is perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
“Mayor Balistoy utilized the funds of the municipality for her personal travels,” the court said. “Public funds were released in her favor through the cash advances obtained.”
Balistoy was charged in 2016 for using municipal funds for seven personal travels to Cebu City guised as official trips, which were not authorized by the provincial governor.
State prosecutors said Balistoy forged the signature of a certifying officer from the Civil Service Commission, when she liquidated her cash advances.
“Using spurious documents and traveling without authority from the Office of the Governor undoubtedly demonstrates her corrupt motive,” the court explained.
“Taken together, these conscious acts of the accused indicate her moral obliquity,” it added.
Aside from prison sentence, the court also directed Balistoy to return ₱20,779.50 or the total amount of her illegal cash advances to the municipal government.
