Janet Lim Napoles, the central figure in the pork barrel scam, has been sentenced to up to 55 years in prison for the misuse of ₱7.55 million in the pork barrel funds of former Davao del Sur lawmaker and current Vice Governor Marc Douglas Cagas IV.
In a ruling released Friday, the Sandiganbayan Third Division found Napoles guilty of two counts of malversation of public funds and two counts of graft in connection with the illegal diversion of Cagas’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Napoles was convicted of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code on malversation.
She received a sentence of 10 to 16 years for malversation under Case No. SB-16-CRM-0185, and 10 to 18 years and 8 months for the same charge under Case No. SB-16-CRM-0186.
Napoles was not alone. Dennis Cunanan and Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana of the defunct Technology Resource Center, along with Rhodora Mendoza of the dissolved National Agribusiness Corp., were also convicted of one count each of graft and malversation. The Sandiganbayan also perpetually disqualified the three from holding public office.
Financial penalties were likewise imposed. Napoles, Cunanan, and Lacsamana were ordered to pay a joint fine of ₱2.7 million, plus ₱2.7 million in civil liability. Meanwhile, Napoles and Mendoza were ordered to jointly reimburse the government ₱4.85 million, on top of a separate fine of the same amount.
The ruling marks yet another conviction for Napoles, reinforcing her role as the face of one of the country’s most notorious corruption scandals.