Ex-TRC exec gets 27 years for graft

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced businessman Dennis Cunanan, a former deputy director-general of the defunct state firm Technology Resource Center (TRC), to up to 27 years in prison for involvement in the misuse of P22.5 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel of former senator Gregorio Honasan in 2007 and 2008.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

In a 97-page decision promulgated on Aug. 15, the anti-graft court's Third Division found Cunanan guilty of one count each of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

Convicted with Cunanan for the same offenses were private respondents Petronila Balmaceda and Leoncio Balisi of the non-government organization Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. (PFI).

For the graft offense, Cunanan, Balmaceda and Balisi were sentenced to six years and one month up to 10 years of imprisonment. The court also ordered the perpetual disqualification of Cunanan from holding public office and the forfeiture of all his retirement and gratuity benefits.

For the malversation offense, Cunanan, Balmaceda and Balisi were sentenced to 12 years to up to 17 years and four months imprisonment. They were also ordered to jointly pay a fine of P20 million. The court said this was on top of another P20 million that they must pay as civil liability.