Sandigan sentences ex-Zambo Sur vice gov. for graft

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced up to 10 years in jail former Zamboanga del Sur vice governor Tirsendo Poloyapoy for graft and corruption arising from the illegal disbursement as financial assistance to the Soya Farmers MultiPurpose Cooperative (SFMPC) in 2001, the Office of the Ombudsman announced.

Aside from Poloyapoy, the anti-graft court also convicted Mario Octavio Arsenal, president of SFMPC, for conspir- ing with Poloyapoy in the scam.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the anti-graft prosecutors were able to prove that the requirements for the financial grant were not fully complied with since SFMPC was not duly registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as required in COA Circular No. 96-003.

She said the prosecutors also established that the cooperative registered with the CDA is not SFMPC but the Tabina Soya Farmers MultiPurpose Cooperative.

Morales said the financial assistance was also granted despite the non-submission of the project statement including identification of farmer-beneficiaries.

The Sandiganbayan ruled that Poloyapoy caused undue injury to the government when he unlawfully disbursed funds to SFMPC despite his knowledge that the cooperative had no legal personality.

Aside from the jail sentence from six years to the maximum of 10 years, Poloyapoy and Arsenal were also ordered to return to the local government the malversed amount.

Since co-accused Provincial Accountant Ma. Eden Tagayuna, Agricultural Technicians Roderick Pascual and Osmundo Lumapas remained at-large, the cases against them were archived pending their arrest.