Ched Rick Gatchalian

Janet Lim Napoles. File Photo/ABS-CBN News

 

Article (news)

Napoles found guilty of graft, malversation raps; sentenced to two more reclusion perpetua

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765201664947janet-1.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Janet Lim Napoles. File Photo/ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division convicted Janet Lim Napoles of six counts of malversation of public funds and six counts of graft over the misuse of the late Benguet representative Samuel Dangwa’s P92 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2010.In a decision promulgated on Dec. 5, the anti-graft court sentenced Napoles to reclusion perpetua, or 20 to 40 years’ imprisonment, in two malversation cases involving P10 million and P9 million.Napoles, who is facing up to 17 years of imprisonment for four other malversation raps, was also sentenced to 6 to 10 years of jail time for each graft count.The court chaired by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno found that Napoles and others conspired to divert millions in PDAF allocations meant for livelihood and development projects in Benguet and other areas through her NGOs: the Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation Inc. (CARED), Peoples Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc. (POPDFI), Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. (SDPFFI), and other entities.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/24/enrile-acquitted-of-graft-in-pork-barrel-case-1019">Sandiganbayan acquits Enrile, Reyes, Napoles in PDAF graft cases</a></div>Dangwa, who was among the respondents in the case, died in 2019. His staff member, Erwin Dangwa, received one count of graft and one count of malversation.Also convicted was Former Technology Resource Center deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, with three counts of graft and three counts of malversation. CARED president Mylene Encarnacion was likewise found guilty of two graft counts and two counts of malversation.Meanwhile, Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana and Gondelina Amata were each convicted of one count of graft and one count of malversation.“The Injury to the government is apparent considering that the prosecution was able to prove that the projects themselves were fictitious or non-existent; there was no actual implementation, and the intended beneficiaries received no assistance whatsoever. Corroborating testimony from multiple prosecution witnesses confirmed these findings, with evidence indicating that no goods or services were distributed to the LGUs or beneficiaries, and that the liquidation documents associated with the projects had been falsified,” the decision read. “It is clear that these funds were misappropriated as kickbacks, rather than being used for their intended purpose,” it added.Napoles and her co-accused were ordered to pay fines worth P44 million and return the misappropriated funds to the Bureau of Treasury.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/dpwh-chief-napoles-scam-petty-change-compared-to-flood-control-corruption-1053">DPWH chief: Napoles scam &#x27;like petty change&#x27; compared to flood control corruption</a></div>

The Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division convicted Janet Lim Napoles of six counts of malversation of public funds and six counts of graft over the misuse of the late Benguet representative Samuel Dangwa’s P92 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2010.

The Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division convicted Janet Lim Napoles of six counts of malversation of public funds and six counts of graft over the misuse of the late Benguet representative Samuel Dangwa’s P92 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2010.