Janet Lim-Napoles, already serving multiple prison sentences for masterminding the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, has been convicted once more—this time for the misuse of P7.55 million in public funds linked to former Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
In a 149-page ruling, the Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division found Napoles guilty of two counts of graft and two counts of malversation, sentencing her to a total of 32 to 54 years behind bars. She remains detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.
Also convicted were former Technology Resource Center (TRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, ex-TRC group manager Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, and Rhodora Mendoza of the defunct National Agribusiness Corp. Cunanan and Lacsamana received prison terms of up to 24 years, while Mendoza faces up to 28 years.
According to the court, Cagas endorsed two bogus foundations controlled by Napoles—the People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc. (POPDFI) and the Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. (SDPFFI)—as project partners for supposed agricultural livelihood programs in 2007 and 2008. The NGOs pocketed millions in funds but delivered no projects.
The justices stressed that the transactions bypassed the legal requirement for public bidding and were instead carried out through endorsements designed to funnel government money to Napoles’ fake NGOs. “Accused Napoles acted with evident bad faith and in conspiracy with the accused public officials and employees to defraud the government,” the ruling declared.
Napoles and her co-accused were also ordered to pay fines and return the stolen amounts—P2.7 million for the POPDFI transaction and P4.85 million for SDPFFI—both with interest.
The antigraft court noted that Cagas had earlier entered into a plea bargain for lesser charges, while proceedings against former Energy Regulatory Commission chair Zenaida Ducut remain suspended due to her medical condition.
