While Sandiganbayan justices said they “empathize with the humanitarian concerns raised by the accused-movant (former legislator Judy Syjuco) such as her old age and the recent loss of her husband, unfortunately, these are not recognized grounds for the grant of her subject motion" to dismiss her gr
Sandiganbayan
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Also cleared of graft and malversation through falsification charges were provincial treasurer Danilo Cual Mendez and provincial accountant Teodorico Guevara Reyes.
The anti-graft court ruled there is no evidence that the public funds were misappropriated for the personal use of the accused, hence, the absence of criminal intent, said the court, in a decision written by Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez.
Case records showed that the calamity funds were allocated to rebuild the province after it was wrecked by Typhoon Sendong and pounded by a massive 6.9-magnitude earthquake.
The prosecution said Degamo, together Mendez and Reyes, disbursed P143,268,441.59 out of the original P480,775,000 calamity funds released to Negros Oriental.
Published January 14, 2021, 9:44 AM
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is now accepting applications or recommendations to the post of Chief Justice and head of the country’s judiciary, which will be vacant on March 27 with the early retirement of Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, until February 15.
In an announcement made by the JBC and published in the Manila Bulletin, also open for applications or nominations is the post of Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo M. Elman whose term of office will end on March 13.
For the Deputy Ombudsman’s post, the deadline for applications or recommendations is on March 1.
The JBC is the constitutional office that accepts, screens, and nominates appointments to the judiciary, the Ombudsman, and deputy Ombudsman, among other offices.