Ex-Ecija Town Mayor Gets 16 Years for Malversation

A former municipal mayor in Nueva Ecija has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for failing to liquidate his cash advances amounting to P3.5 million.

- With Mark Ernest Villeza

In a 31-page decision promulgated on Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan found former mayor Blas Canlas of Laur town guilty of malversation of public funds as provided under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

The anti-graft court's Fourth Division sentenced Canlas to 10 years and one day to 16 years, five months and 11 days in prison, and disqualified him from holding public office.

The court ordered Canlas to indemnify the municipal government P3.5 million or the equivalent of the amount of public funds he allegedly malversed.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, the case stemmed from Canlas' failure to liquidate his cash advances in 2006 despite repeated demands by the Commission on Audit (COA).

The anti-graft court said Canlas claimed he liquidated his cash advances, but failed to present any proof.