Sandiganbayan upholds suspension order

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the suspension order against Shariff Saydona Mustapha Mayor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan in relation to the graft, malversation and falsification charges filed against him over alleged misuse of funds.

In his motion for reconsideration assailing the 1 October suspension order by the anti-graft court, Ampatuan prayed that the resolution be reversed and set aside on the ground that he was not given the opportunity to participate in the preliminary investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman, rendering the information filed against him “inherently and substantially defective.”

But according to the 20 November resolution of the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, Ampatuan was given opportunity to file his counter-affidavit.

The Court said the examination of records would show that Ampatuan was among the respondents who filed their respective counter affidavits before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“The court hereby orders the suspension pendente lite of accused Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan as Mayor of the Municipality of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao and from any other public position he may now or hereafter hold for a period of 90 days from receipt of his resolution,” the Sandiganbayan said.

The suspension will be automatically lifted upon the expiration of the 90-day period from the implementation of the resolution, according to the court.

The charges filed against Ampatuan before the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division stemmed from a supposed misuse of P72.26 million funds in 2009 which was intended for the repair of school buildings.

Ampatuan, who was then Maguinadanao provincial governor, was accused of allocating said funds to alleged non-existent lumber firms.