Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Muntinlupa City mayor Ruffy Biazon during the inauguration of the new communications and command center of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in Pasig City on July 12, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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MMDA inaugurates new Command Center

Job Manahan

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174859460661120230712-mmda-command-communication-center-MD-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Muntinlupa City mayor Ruffy Biazon during the inauguration of the new communications and command center of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in Pasig City on July 12, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file</div>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Special 7th Division has found Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon guilty of graft in relation to the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) through ghost NGOs created by Janet Lim Napoles back when he was still a lawmaker. In the 191-page document, the Sandiganbayan also found Napoles, then-Technology Resource Center (TRC) Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan, Group Manager of the Corporate Support Services Group Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, and PSDFI President Evelyn de Leon guilty of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.The Sandiganbayan sentenced Biazon, Napoles, Cunanan, Lacsamana, and De Leon, to an “indeterminate penalty of imprisonment for a minimum period of 6 years, 1 month and a maximum period of 8 years,” based on a decision promulgated this Friday.They were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.De Leon and Napoles, meanwhile, were ordered to indemnify the government and return to the national treasury P2.7 million or the total amount “wrongfully and illegally disbursed.”The special court acquitted Biazon, Napoles, Cunanan, Lacsamana, De Leon, meanwhile, of committing malversation in the pork barrel case.Biazon supposedly endorsed Philippine Development Foundation, Inc. (PSDFI) – a non-government organization operated by Napoles – as a project partner funded by his PDAF amounting to P3 million.Of the figure, the P2.7 million was merely transferred to PSDFI through a tripartite MOA among then-lawmaker Biazon, TRC Director General Antonio Ortiz and PSDFI President Evelyn De Leon.The Sandiganbayan said the P300,000 – a retention fee by the Technology Resource Center (TRC) as service fee and grant of technical assistance – cannot be accounted for because it was undocumented.“Apparently, TRC did not use the service fee in assessing the qualification of PSDFI and in supervising the implementation of the project,” the decision read.The PDAF was supposedly intended for livelihood projects through PSDFI, with the TRC as the implementing agency.“PSDFI’s receipt of the PDAF allocation is not even a debatable issue in these cases. TRC released PHP 2,400,000.00 on January 9, 2008, which PSDFI received the next day. This fund was supposed to finance the livelihood project. Meanwhile, the documents are sparse as to how and when the fund utilization would be programmed,” the decision read.“This proved that TRC as Implementing Agency failed to conduct its tracking and monitoring duties under the MOA for the project implementation. Then again, when the final 10% Retention fee was released by TRC, PSDFI was cleared of the project implementation. This retention amount was supposed to ensure the completion of the project,” it read.“With its final release, PSDFI closed its pages on the project implementation. What it has done on the field, however, COA’s special audit discovered to be an anomalous and sham program,” the document read.The Sandiganbayan said the livelihood projects only existed on paper but “none actually transpired.”  <div>‘NOT YET FINAL’</div>In a statement, Biazon’s spokesperson said he was unfazed by Sandiganbayan’s decision, saying this would “not impact” his position as mayor in Muntinlupa.“Public service should not be derailed by noise or distraction. My commitment to Muntinlupeños stands firm—a city led with compassion, guided by vision, and focused on real solutions,” Biazon said, based on his camp’s statement.Lawyer Mitchell-David Espiritu, his spokesperson, emphasized that the Sandiganbayan’s decision was “still not final.”&quot;Mananatiling halal na Punong Lungsod si Mayor Ruffy, at magpapatuloy ang kaniyang panunungkulan,&quot; Espiritu said. He said they would also file a motion for reconsideration on this.“Maghahain tayo ng Motion for Reconsideration upang hilinging muling pag-aralan ng Sandiganbayan ang desisyon, at patuloy nating isusulong ang mga ligal na hakbang upang ganap na malinis ang kanyang pangalan,” he said.

Sandiganbayan finds Muntinlupa mayor Biazon guilty of graft over PDAF

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Sandiganbayan finds Muntinlupa mayor Biazon guilty of graft over PDAF

Job Manahan,

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 30, 2025 04:48 PM PHT

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Updated May 30, 2025 07:06 PM PHT

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