Sandiganbayan upholds conviction of Nueva Vizcaya officer for failing to appeal within reglementary period

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya disbursing officer Jocelyn D. Tuzon for malversation involving more than PHP976 million in public funds.

Tuzon was found guilty by a regional trial court (RTC) and sentenced to imprisonment with a fine and disqualification from holding public office.

The Sandiganbayan ruled that it lacks jurisdiction over Tuzon's case because she filed her appeal beyond the 15-day reglementary period after initially filing in the wrong forum, the Court of Appeals (CA).

Tuzon was originally given until December 2, 2022, to file an appeal with the Sandiganbayan but instead filed on November 21, 2022, with the CA.

The court emphasized that appealing to the wrong forum did not toll the running of the 15-day period and thus Tuzon's case had already become final.