The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the ruling of Benguet court convicting an ex-municipal cashier of malversation for the alleged embezzlement of P4.1 million in public funds in 1998.   

In a 36-page decision handed down on 20 December, the anti-graft court's Fifth Division affirmed the joint ruling of La Trinidad, Benguet, Regional Trial Court Branch 10 dated 28 February 2023, which found Esther Pagano, cashier IV of the Provincial Treasurer's Office of La Trinidad, Benguet, guilty of 12 counts of malversation of public funds.  

The case, filed by his boss, Mauricio Ambanloc, pertains to the cash shortage totaling P4,080,799.57 that Pagano allegedly incurred in her possession as a cashier of the provincial government in 1998.   

Ambanloc was then the Provincial Treasurer of Benguet.  

Ambanloc's allegation about the cash shortage was further strengthened and brought to the surface following the cash and account examination, covering 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1997, carried out by the Commission on Audit in February of the same year.   

Pagano, however, vehemently denied Ambanloc's accusations, and neither did she appropriate any public funds for her personal use.

But the Sandiganbayan concurred with the prosecution's findings, proving all the elements of malversation beyond a reasonable doubt.   

The court said it was not convinced by Pagano's claim that she acted in good faith.  

"Clearly, the accused-appellant was not in good faith when she allowed the encashment of the said checks from her cash-on-hand,» it said.

Likewise, it added, "All other assignments of errors propounded by the accused-appellant were misplaced and irrelevant. Thus, there's no cogent reason to discuss the same."