Ampatuan draws 210 years for graft

The Sandiganbayan yesterday sentenced former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. to a maximum of 210 years in prison after finding him guilty of 21 counts of graft for the anomalous procurement and ghost delivery of fuel for infrastructure projects in 2008.

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division directed Ampatuan to pay the Maguindanao provincial government P44.184 million, representing the cost of undelivered fuel, subject to six percent annual interest until the amount is fully paid.

Ampatuan was one of the perpetrators of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, and the date of the verdict on his graft case coincided with the anniversary of the killings. He is serving a sentence of reclusion perpetua for the massacre.

For the graft case, Ampatuan drew a sentence of six to 10 years for each charge, for 126 to 210 years behind bars.

The antigraft court also found former provincial budget officer Datuali Abpi Al Haj guilty of 19 counts of falsification of public documents and one count each of graft and malversation of public funds.

He was sentenced to 114 years for falsification, 17 years for malversation, and six years for graft. He was directed to pay the Maguindanao government P8.45 million in civil liability.

Project engineer Samsudin Sema was convicted of three counts of falsification and ordered to serve six to seven years in prison for each count. Another engineer, Omar Camsa, was sentenced to six to seven years on one count of falsification.

The court also issued arrest warrants for the other accused, who remain at large, namely, former provincial accountant John Estelito Dollosa Jr., provincial treasurer Osmena Bandila, and project engineer Pendi Abpet.