Sajid Ampatuan convicted: P393M in public funds embezzled

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Maguindanao Governor Sajid Ampatuan of graft and malversation of public funds.

In a 66-page decision issued on October 18, the court sentenced Ampatuan to an indeterminate prison term of eight years and one month to 12 years for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

He was also found guilty of malversation under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, for which he received a sentence of reclusion perpetua—20 to 40 years imprisonment—and a fine of P393 million, the amount embezzled.

In addition, Ampatuan was ordered to repay the same amount to the government, with 6% annual interest, starting from the finality of the decision until full payment.

He was also permanently disqualified from holding any public office.

Ampatuan is currently incarcerated due to previous graft convictions. His latest conviction was in November 2023, when the court found him guilty of 21 counts of graft.

The charges against Ampatuan and provincial auditor Danny Calib stemmed from a special audit conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA), focusing on transactions in Maguindanao and selected municipalities in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in 2009.

As acting governor, Ampatuan signed several Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for farm-to-market road projects in the province. He requested P500 million from DAR for these projects, and DAR initially released P200 million.

Provincial treasurer Osmena Bandila issued official receipts as proof of the transfer. Ampatuan approved disbursement vouchers that led to cash advances for Bandila, totaling P393 million.

These funds were purportedly paid in cash to contractors and suppliers for the road projects. John Dollosa, the provincial accountant, provided liquidation reports and certified that nearly the entire P500 million had been spent on agricultural supplies and road projects between June and September 2009.

After the Ampatuan Massacre on November 23, 2009, and the declaration of martial law in the Municipality of Ampatuan, the COA audit team led by Calib was reassigned, which prevented a