A former municipal treasurer of Ronda, Cebu, will spend 20 years of his life in the pen after being found guilty by the Sandiganbayan of graft and malversation of public funds in a case stemming from the unliquidated cash advances of the late mayor Esteban Sia 14 years ago.
The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division has sentenced Esperato del Socorro to six to 10 years in the slammer for each offense, along with the additional penalties of being permanently disqualified from holding public office and having retirement and gratuity benefits forfeited.
In 2016, Ombudsman indicted Sia, Del Socorro, and Genera Kasayan, the ex-municipal accountant, for using their positions to defraud the government over alleged irregularities in releasing P2,063,422.72 in cash advances in 2009.
Based on the case facts, the three accused connived and failed to liquidate the funds.
But in 2020, the anti-graft court dropped all charges against Sia following his passing, as well as the charges against Kasayan after she turned state witness in the case.
The Sandiganbayan, in a 124-page ruling, ordered Del Soccoro to pay a P2.063 million fine, equal to the amount of public funds found to have been malversed.
He also has to refund the said amount to the Bureau of the Treasury, plus interest at a rate of six percent per annum reckoned from the decision’s finality until the amount is fully paid.