The Sandiganbayan Second Division yesterday convicted three former officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Retirement and Separation Benefits System and two others in connection with the sale of overpriced land in 1996.
Found guilty of the complex crime of malversation through falsification of public documents were retired military general Jose S. Ramiscal Jr., president of the AFP-RSBS, Chief of Legal Department Julian Alzaga, Chief of Documentation Department Atty. Manuel Satuito, and private individuals Elizabeth Chua Liang and Jesus Garcia.
In a 35-page decision penned by Associate Justice Napoleon Inoturan and concurred in by Associate Justices Teresita Diaz-Baldoz and Oscar Herrera Jr., Ramiscal and the four others were also ordered to pay a fine of P250,318,200 each, which is the amount of the funds they malversed.
They were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 14 years, 10 months, and 21 days to a maximum of 20 years and were also meted the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office. (Czarina Nicole O. Ong)
