The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a suspect in connection with a P17-million payment for a party-list nomination that never materialized, and acquitted another suspect.

However, the SC Third Division barred the complainant from being indemnified for the P17 million she paid, following the doctrine of “in pari delicto,” given her equal culpability in the illegal transaction.

Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, in a 20 August 2025 decision, stated: “Undoubtedly, contracts that have for their object the trafficking of public office by unlawful means or the manipulation of electoral processes are void for being contrary to public policy. They are not only tainted with illegality from inception, but also subvert democratic processes and erode public trust in the electoral system.”

Accused Mark Joel Morales was cleared of estafa, but the conviction of Armando Almo Co was affirmed and he was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

The case against the two arose from a complaint by Catherine Factor-Koura, who alleged she was offered a party-list nomination in exchange for money.

Seat guaranteed

Koura said she was assured of being  the Ang Chinoy nominee in the May 2016 election and that the money would be returned if she did not win.

When the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied Ang Chinoy accreditation as a party-list group, Koura was informed that she would be the nominee of Akap Party-list or Anak Central Party-list.