Ex-DepEd Zamboanga director gets prison time for diverting P6.1M meant for teachers’ salaries, benefits
A former regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Zamboanga Peninsula was sentenced to prison after an anti-graft found him guilty of diverting public funds intended for teachers’ salaries and benefits.
Jesus Nieves, who once headed DepEd’s regional office in Zamboanga Peninsula (DepEd Region 9), was convicted of diverting P6.1 million in agency funds to a dormant account in December 2007.
The Sandiganbayan First Division, a Philippine anti-graft court, said in its 53-page decision that Nieves then conspired with DepEd regional office’s former chief accountant Marilou Tolosa to withdraw the money.
State Auditor Remegio Suico Jr. testified in court that his team traced the paper trail, revealing that funds from DepEd Region 9’s bank account were transferred to the account of Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Program, which had been closed since August 2007.
Philippine Veterans Bank’s Jaime Cesar Santos testified that cashier Virginia Montero withdrew and encashed the large sum. Montero died before trial. The Sandiganbayan ruled that any bank transfer would not have been possible without Nieves’ approval.
“The fact that he affixed his signature on the authorization to transfer the funds and on the check to facilitate the withdrawal of the amount shows that he permitted the taking of the money from the government,” the Sandiganbayan ruling stated.
The court sentenced Nieves to six to ten years in prison for the graft charge and up to 17 years for malversation, a separate charge concerning the misuse of public funds.
He was also fined P6.1 million, the amount of money diverted.
The court decision did not specify how the missing funds would be recovered.
Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Tolosa, Nieves’ co-accused, due to insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
