THE Sandiganbayan Second Division has recalled the arrest warrant against Rolleo Ignacio, the executive director of the Dr. Rodolfo A. Ignacio Sr. Foundation Inc. (DRAISFI), a non-government organization (NGO) implicated in four criminal charges in relation to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
In a resolution dated October 2, 2024, the anti-graft court granted Ignacio’s Motion for Reconsideration wherein he informed the court that he had posted additional bail bonds totaling P564,000 for his provisional liberty while he appealed his conviction on two counts each of graft and malversation of public funds.
It also reversed and set aside its earlier resolution issued on August 30, 2024 that denied the defendant’s request for an extension of the period for him to post the additional bail, saying Ignacio was able to justify the delay.
The NGO executive said his bonding company could not process his bond promptly because it was in the middle of renewing its license with the Supreme Court when the decision convicting him came out.
He added that he had to search for sources of funds to meet the bail bonds required because he no longer has a steady source of income due to his advanced age.
He explained that he was able to gather the needed funds on September 2, 2024 but was not able to post the required bail because of work suspension at the Sandiganbayan caused by heavy downpours due to tropical storm “Enteng” and the southwest monsoon.
Under the Rules of Court, courts are given the discretion in admitting an accused on bail, granting an extension of time, and updating bail so long as justifiable grounds are presented.
“Thus, finding the explanation of Ignacio meritorious, and with the fact that the updated and additional surety bond was filed on September 4, 2024 …We heretofore reverse the denial of the extension of time to post bail and consequently, consider the bail posted on said date,” the Sandiganbayan said.
Based on the 80-page decision dated August 8, 2024, Ignacio was sentenced to a total of 12 to 16 years imprisonment for two counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and 24 to 37 years on two counts of malversation of public funds.
Prosecutors said taxpayers’ money in the sum of P9.6 million from the PDAF allocations of former Manila Rep. Joey Hizon went through the Technology Resource Center (TRC) as a conduit, before being funneled into DRAISFI.
However, government auditors and corruption investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman found that the address given by the NGO was bogus as it turned out to be a residence whose occupants had no idea about DRAISFI or any of its transactions.
Also convicted were TRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan who is facing up to 72 years in prison and former TRC Group manager Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana who was sentenced to 18 to 24 years for graft and 36 to 54 years for malversation of public funds.
