Sandigan affirms raps vs Ampatuan son over food scam

The Sandiganbayan has denied the motion of former Maguindanao governor Sajid Ampatuan to dismiss the charges filed against him in connection with the alleged fictitious purchase of P16.3 million in food supplies in 2009.

In a four-page resolution promulgated on Nov. 2, the anti-graft court’s fifth division found no merit on Ampatuan’s claim that his constitutional right to speedy trial was violated. He claimed it took the Office of the Ombudsman more than eight years to investigate and file the cases.

The court said Ampatuan erred in his computation because he included the three years the Commission on Audit (COA) spent to conduct an audit of Ampatuan’s transactions when he was governor.

Court records showed that it was only after COA chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan endorsed the preliminary investigation of Ampatuan and other provincial government officials on March 26, 2014 that the ombudsman started its probe.

The Sandiganbayan said the audit was not part of the investigation.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of 36 criminal cases against Ampatuan and six other former officials on Aug. 18, 2016. The accused were indicted before the Sandiganbayan last May 9.

The court noted that Ampatuan even contributed to the delay in the investigation when he sought an extension of the deadline to file his counter-affidavit.

Based on the complaints, Ampatuan conspired with his co-accused to make it appear that various food supplies were bought from Henry Merchandising, which was found to be non-existent.

The accused ”misappropriated the fund for themselves,” the ombudsman said.

Sajid is also facing 161 criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with alleged anomalous infrastructure projects.

Sajid and Andal Jr., together with their late father Andal Ampatuan Sr., are the primary suspects in the Maguindanao massacre.

Sajid was granted bail by the Quezon City regional trial court in March 2015 due to insufficient evidence.