MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has cleared former Masbate governor and lawmaker Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, her former chief of staff Jose Rosalinda Sumalpong, and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles of plunder charges involving the supposed misuse of Lanete’s ₱112 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
In a unanimous decision dated October 24, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division ruled that the prosecution failed to establish that Lanete accumulated at least ₱50 million in ill-gotten wealth, a key threshold required under the Plunder Law (Republic Act 7080).
The court noted that documents bearing Lanete’s signature did not conclusively prove that she intended to misuse public funds.
“The records do not show that her signing of endorsement letters and memoranda was done with corrupt intent or gross negligence. For these reasons, she must be acquitted of plunder and of all counts of graft,” the ruling stated.
The decision added that other accused officials, whose signatures merely appeared on routine documents, should likewise be acquitted since the evidence failed to show they knowingly participated in the alleged scam.
The court also cited whistleblower Benhur Luy’s admission that he forged Lanete’s signatures, which cast “serious doubt” on the reliability of key prosecution evidence.
Furthermore, none of the witnesses testified seeing Lanete inside Napoles’ offices or interacting with her directly.
“The lack of personal interaction with Napoles casts doubt on the extent of Lanete’s personal involvement in the alleged scheme,” the ruling said.
The Sandiganbayan emphasized that merely channeling PDAF funds to Napoles-linked NGOs did not automatically amount to a crime without proof of Lanete’s knowledge or intent.
The court found that only ₱31 million of the PDAF funds remained questionable after removing unsubstantiated amounts, well below the ₱50 million threshold for plunder.
“Without proof that the accused amassed at least ₱50 million in ill-gotten wealth, the essential element of plunder is not met,” it ruled.
Following the acquittal, the anti-graft court ordered the release of Lanete and Sumalpong’s bonds and lifted their hold departure orders.
However, Napoles was directed to return ₱107 million with 6% annual interest, representing the amount she received from Lanete’s PDAF allocations.
She was also convicted of seven counts of graft, each carrying a prison term of six to eight years and perpetual disqualification from public office.
Lanete and Sumalpong, meanwhile, were acquitted of 11 graft charges related to PDAF disbursements from 2007 to 2009.