The Sandiganbayan upheld former Bukidnon Rep. Candido Pancrudo Jr.'s conviction for graft and malversation for allegedly misusing P7.9 million in pork barrel allocations.
Simultaneously, the Fifth Division of the anti-graft court reversed its earlier convictions of former National Agribusiness Corp. officials Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez Guaizo, and Victor Roman Cacal, as well as Pancrudo's coaccused Espinosa, for malversation.
The court maintained in a 53-page resolution issued on March 15 that state prosecutors were able to prove that P7.954 million of Pancrudo's P8.2 million in pork allocations were released and received by the nongovernmental organization Uswag Pilipinas Foundation Inc. (UPFI).
Millions of dollars were allegedly disbursed for livelihood projects in Pancrudo's district to help farmers in the area.
The court stated in its decision that the distribution of Priority Development Assistance Funds to the UPFI was "highly irregular, if not illegal."
