Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

THUMBNAIL-LAW

Kaxandra Salonga

<p>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan reversed the conviction of a former barangay treasurer of Barangay San Antonio, Cebu City, who was earlier found guilty of graft.</p><p>In a decision promulgated on July 7, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division acquitted Christopher Cacanindin of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The ruling overturns a September 12, 2024, judgment by the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 74, which had sentenced Cacanindin to up to eight years in prison and perpetual disqualification from public office.</p><p>The case originated from a 2018 Commission on Audit (COA) examination that flagged a cash shortage of P4.6 million in undeposited collections and unliquidated cash advances during Cacanindin&#x27;s tenure from 2013 to 2018.</p><p>State auditors claimed Cacanindin repeatedly issued duplicate checks using identical payroll attachments to pay honoraria. They further alleged he fabricated official receipts to fake the return of cash to barangay coffers and listed himself as the payor for P1.75 million of the phantom refunds.</p><p>However, the resolution penned by Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio noted that the prosecution relied on audit summaries and failed to present the actual primary source documents, including questioned checks, disbursement vouchers, and Punong Barangay Certifications.</p><p>The court also noted that the simultaneous attribution of bad faith and gross negligence to a single act is conceptually incompatible.</p><p>&quot;One speaks of a mind that knowingly chooses the wrongful path while the other, of a failure to perceive or attend to what ordinary caution plainly demands. To conflate the two without a clear and categorical factual finding risks obscuring the precise nature of the accused&#x27;s liability,” the resolution read. </p><p>&quot;The demand for accountability should not be at the expense of well-meaning public officials who may have erred in the performance of their duties but have done so without a criminal min. If we all continue to &#x27;weaponize&#x27; each misstep in governmental functions, we run the risk of losing the many good people in the government,” it added.</p><p>Although Cacanindin was acquitted of the graft charge, the court noted that his separate conviction for malversation was not included in the appeal.</p><div> </div><div><strong>OTHER STORIES:</strong></div><div><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/sandiganbayan-affirms-denial-of-estrada-s-bid-to-quash-graft-charge-dismiss-proceedings-1935">Sandiganbayan affirms denial of Estrada’s bid to quash graft charge, dismiss proceedings </a><br/><a href="http://Sandiganbayan affirms denial of Estrada’s bid to quash graft charge, dismiss proceedings">Sandiganbayan rejects Jinggoy&#x27;s bid to attend VP Sara impeachment trial </a> <br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/court-questions-vp-sara-padilla-s-visit-to-pneumonia-stricken-marcoleta-1018">Sandiganbayan questions VP Sara, Padilla&#x27;s visit to pneumonia-stricken Marcoleta</a> <strong></strong></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan reversed the conviction of a former barangay treasurer of Barangay San Antonio, Cebu City, who was earlier found guilty of graft.</p>

The Sandiganbayan reversed the conviction of a former barangay treasurer of Barangay San Antonio, Cebu City, who was earlier found guilty of graft.

Sandiganbayan clears Cebu barangay treasurer of graft over alleged P4.6M audit irregularities

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Sandiganbayan clears Cebu barangay treasurer of graft over alleged P4.6M audit irregularities

Kaxandra Salonga

Published July 13, 2026 11:40 AM PHT

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