The Sandiganbayan has rejected the pleas of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official Napoleon Anas and businesswoman Janette Bugayong seeking legal remedies to halt their arrest after being convicted of graft and estafa in relation to ghost repairs of the agency’s vehicles in 2001.

In a resolution dated 14 April, the Sandiganbayan denied for the second time the petition to avail of remedies for their conviction as they were no‑shows on the date of promulgation.

The court’s decision will direct authorities to enforce an arrest order to bring them into custody to serve their sentence.

“The right to appeal their conviction was available to both accused by appearing during promulgation or surrendering to this court, both of which they failed to do,” the court said.

Anas and Bugayong were both found guilty of graft and estafa, with the former convicted of 38 counts and sentenced to 300 years just and the latter 150 years, just for graft. For estafa, the two can face up to 10 years for each count.

Anas and Bugayong were absent when the court handed down the decision on 14 March, citing worsening medical conditions. The pair were convicted alongside several other DPWH officials and shop owners, involving the vehicle‑repair scam at the agency.

Court records showed that the expenses made for the repairs were subject to reimbursement and that the DPWH officials undertook the emergency repairs when there was no urgent need for such.

The prosecution said the DPWH officials colluded with shop owners in faking the emergency repairs to obtain reimbursements from the agency, since reimbursements were only exclusive for emergency purchases. The bogus vouchers ranged from ₱3,000 to ₱25,000.

Investigation by the Ombudsman disclosed that 4,406 checks were issued as payments using fictitious receipts and reimbursement documents.

The ghost‑repair scam was first exposed in 2001, although reports indicate that the fraudulent scheme had been ongoing since 1999.