Napoles convicted anew of malversation, graft; gets 2 more life terms in PDAF scam case
Janet Lim Napoles will face two more life terms after being convicted anew of graft and malversation of public funds in connection with the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of late Benguet Solon Samuel Dangwa.
In a 165-page decision promulgated Dec. 8 as reported by Philstar.com, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Napoles to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years of imprisonment in two criminal cases.
Together with Napoles, former Technology Resource Center deputy director Dennis Cunanan and CARED Foundation head Mylene Encarnacion were also found guilty in a malversation case involving P10 million of Dangwa's PDAF. They were ordered to return the amount with 6% annual interest.
Former National Livelihood Development Corp. president Gondelina Amata was likewise convicted and sentenced to reclusion perpetua in another case involving P9 million. She and Napoles were fined P9 million with legal interest.
In the P10 million case, Napoles and other co-accused are facing penalties ranging from reclusion temporal (up to 20 years) to prision mayor (up to 12 years). Additionally, both Amata and Cunanan were perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Napoles and her co-accused were also found guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Charges against Dangwa, Eulogio Dimailig Rodriguez, Romulo Magahis Relevo, and Emmanuel Alexis Gagni Sevidal were dismissed by the court following their deaths.
Napoles is already serving a life sentence for plunder in a PDAF case linked to former senator Bong Revilla, although the latter was acquitted. She is currently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.
She has also been convicted in multiple other PDAF-related cases tied to pork barrel allocations of several lawmakers, including the PDAF of a Davao del Sur governor, and 13 counts of money laundering over the pork barrel scam.
On Oct. 24, the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division acquitted Juan Ponce Enrile and Napoles of 15 counts of graft in the pork barrel scam.
