Ex-Ilocos Sur mayor gets 104 years for graft, malversation

Former Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur mayor Carlos Asuncion may spend the rest of his life in prison.

The Sandiganbayan sentenced Asuncion to up to 104 years in prison for donating P400,000 to a non-government organization using the municipal government’s tobacco excise tax collections.

In a 33-page decision released yesterday, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division said Asuncion was found guilty of eight counts of graft and four counts of malversation of public funds.

He was sentenced to six to 10 years for each count of graft and up to six years for each count of malversation.

Asuncion was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

His co-accused, private respondents Mamelfa Amongol, Rosita Ragunjan, Virginia Rafanan and Genoveva Ragasa of Bayanihan ng Kababaihan, were convicted of the same offenses.

They were also ordered to pay a fine of P400,000, which is equivalent to the amount that was malversed.

Asuncion donated P100,000 to Bayanihan four times in 2012 to support its livelihood projects, the Office of the Ombudsman said in filing the cases in April 2017.

The amount was drawn from the municipal government’s share in tobacco excise tax collections in 2010.

The ombudsman said the donations were neither approved by the Sangguniang Bayan nor supported by a budget ordinance.

The court said Bayanihan was not qualified to receive the financial assistance because it is not an association of tobacco farmers.

The Sandiganbayan said Bayanihan has no “legal personality” either as a nongovernment organization or a private entity.

Investigation showed that the donations had long been released when the group registered with the Department of Labor and Employment.

The court said Asuncion failed to present any evidence to prove that the financial assistance was approved by the Sangguniang Bayan and that it was covered by an appropriation ordinance.