The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former Cebu mayor and three other city officials in corruption charges in connection with the anomalous diversion of PHP20 million in public funds earmarked for agricultural development into a private company in 2007.

In a 119-page decision dated February 28, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division found Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez III, councilor Crescencio Verdida who was the municipal accountant during the time, former municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez, and former municipal assistant treasurer Julio Ursonal Jr. guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

They were sentenced up to 10 years in prison.

They were also perpetually disqualified from holding any public office and all of their retirement benefits were ordered forfeited.

The case against another accused who remains at large, former municipal budget officer Mary Lou Ursal was archived pending her arrest.

The officials were found guilty of conspiring with one another in diverting PHP20 million in public funds to the Bogo Municipal Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMEMPC), a private corporation.

The funds were originally from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and for agricultural and livelihood assistance for farmers, fisherfolk, and other members of the marginalized sector under the Ginintuang Agrikulturang Makamasa (GAM) program.

On April 26, 2007, the officials instead turned over the money to BMEMPC by constituting it as a conduit for public funds and making the funds available exclusively to BMEMPC.

The accused availed themselves of huge loans from BMEMPC, along with its other members.

“Corruption has siphoned off whatever meager resources that could have been immensely helpful to alleviate the lives of poor Filipinos,” the court said. (PNA)