Sandigan junks Napoles bid to overturn conviction

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the appeal of Janet Lim-Napoles and former lawmaker Edgar Valdez to reverse their conviction for graft over the misuse of P57.78 million in pork barrel funds from 2004 to 2010.

“Napoles and Valdez were apprised that the plunder information included the lesser offenses of bribery and corruption of public officers. They were not caught by surprise and were not oblivious to these lesser offenses,” the anti-graft court’s Special Fifth Division said in a 20-page resolution.

Napoles was ordered to pay the government P79.04 million, with a six percent interest every year until full payment.

The anti-graft court also reduced their fines from P26 million to P23.99 million.

In 2023, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Napoles and Valdez of plunder but found them guilty of nine counts of corruption of and direct bribery, respectively.

They were sentenced to six years in prison instead of life imprisonment for plunder.