The Sandiganbayan has denied a motion for consideration of a former mayor in Samar town who has been found guilty of graft.

The anti-graft court has upheld its graft conviction against former San Sebastian Mayor Arnold Abalos who was sentenced to a minimum of six years and one month and a maximum of eight years of imprisonment with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

In a five-page resolution, the court's special fourth division denied the former mayor's motion dated 27 July 2022 to reconsider the Sandiganbayan's decision dated 18 July 2022 due to a lack of merit.

According to the court, the motion for reconsideration was denied since the same only constitutes a rehash of issues previously put forward.

"A careful reading of the accused's (Abalos) motion shows that it did not present new arguments which would warrant a reconsideration of the Court's decision dated 18 July," it said.

Abalos was found guilty of graft violating Section 3 (f) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for failing to act on a motion for reconsideration filed by Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Robert Rebosura on 26 March 2012.

The case was in connection to the complaint filed by Rebosura and other town officials against Abalos for failure to remit their GSIS contributions.

Abalos then issued a memorandum naming Alma Llanitas, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, as MPDC to replace Rebosura.

Rebosura claimed that Abalos mistreated him since he was the only official dismissed from his position among all those who complained and added that Abalos failed to act on his motion for reconsideration, requesting that he set aside his memorandum designating Llanitas as his replacement.

The former mayor, meanwhile, justified Rebosura's replacement saying he conducted a staff meeting to discuss the motion for reconsideration but was unable to discuss the issue further "due to his absence."

Earlier, the Sandiganbayan also permanently barred Abalos from holding any government position.