Ocampos, Candole, Linsangan convicted of graft, malversation, falsification

Former Misamis Occidental 2nd District Representative Loreto Leo Ocampos, along with private individuals Josefina Candole and Jaime Ann Perez Linsangan, have been convicted by the Sandiganbayan for graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of documents related to a fraudulent livelihood project in 2013.

The court found that PHP2.1 million from Ocampos' priority development assistance fund (PDAF) was misused through a fake project involving Basilan Native Chicken business starter kits distributed by the Rich Islas de Filipinas Foundation, Inc.

Ocampos and his co-conspirators were sentenced to jail terms of six to ten years for graft with perpetual disqualification from holding public office and civil liability in the sum of P2.1 million payable to the Bureau of Treasury; four to ten years for malversation with a P2.1 million fine; and two to eight years for falsification with a P5,000 fine each.

The Sandiganbayan ruled that the trio had intentionally created a deceptive scheme to misappropriate public funds through RIDFFI for their personal gain.

Despite the project being fraudulent, liquidation documents were fabricated to falsely indicate its completion and proper implementation.