Sandigan upholds conviction of pork’ scam execs

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of officials of three abolished state firms in connection with the pork barrel scam.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

In a 19-page resolution promulgated on Nov. 6, the anti-graft court's Third Division said former officials of the abolished state firms National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR), National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) and Technology Resource Center (TRC) failed to raise any new meritorious argument in their respective motions for reconsideration (MRs) that would warrant the reversal of its June 28, 2024 decision finding them guilty of graft and malversation of public funds.

"After due consideration of the arguments raised by the accusedmovants and the prosecution, as well as the assiduous review of the records, the Court finds no compelling reason to reverse their respective convictions," the Third Division's resolution read.

"The Court finds that the grounds relied upon by the accused-movants were fully threshed out by the Court in the assailed Decision," it added.

Specifically denied were the MRs of NABCOR Human Resource supervisor Encarnita Munsod, NLDC president Gondelina Amata, NLDC Asset Management Division chief Gregoria Buenaventura and former TRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan.