MISUARI CONVICTED OF GRAFT

THE Sandiganbayan has convicted Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari in connection with the P77-million worth of ghost  purchases during his term as governor of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a 68-page decision promulgated on Friday, the Anti-Graft Court found the 85-year-old Misuari guilty of two counts of graft.

The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division sentenced him  and his co-accused to 12 to 16 years in prison.

Convicted with Misuari of two counts of the same offense were four former regional officials of the Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM – director Leovigilda Cinches, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri, accountant Alladin Usi and supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman.

Also convicted of one count each of graft were Commission on Audit-ARMM resident auditor Nader Macagaan and private supplier Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing.

Except for Ramirez, the rest, being government officials around the time of the procurements of the non-existent information technology (IT) educational materials in 2000 and 2001, were barred permanently from holding public office.

According to Misuari’s counsel, Ma. Victoria Lim-Florido, they will appeal the graft conviction.

In 2017, Misuari was charged with three counts each of graft and of malversation in relation to the P115 million worth of non-existent educational materials when he was ARMM governor in 2000 and 2001.

However, the Sandiganbayan later amended the case and charged the MNLF leader with two counts each of graft and malversation.

The amount of the transactions was placed at P77 million instead.

The MNLF leader is acquitted of malversation raps.

Misuari is currently out on bail for the cases.