June 12, 2024 - The Sandiganbayan has convicted Jesus Nieves, a former regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd), on two criminal charges for misappropriating public funds.
In a 53-page decision, the Sandiganbayan First Division stated that Nieves, who previously led DepEd’s regional office in Zamboanga Peninsula (DepEd Region 9), diverted P6.1 million in agency funds to a dormant account in December 2007. He then conspired with another agency staff member to withdraw the money.
State Auditor Remegio Suico Jr. and his team, who assembled the paper trail, testified in court that the funds from DepEd Region 9’s bank account were transferred to the account of the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Program, which had been closed since August 2007.
Jaime Cesar Santos, the Mindanao Area head of the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), stated that DepEd cashier Virginia Montero withdrew the large sum of money and cashed the check. Montero passed away before the cases reached the court.
The Sandiganbayan ruled that any bank transfer would not have been possible without Nieves’ approval. “The fact that he affixed his signature on the authorization to transfer the funds and on the check to facilitate the withdrawal of the amount shows that he permitted the taking of the money from the government,” the ruling read.
The anti-graft court sentenced Nieves to six to ten years in prison, banned him from public office, and convicted him of a separate charge of malversation. This conviction carries a jail sentence of up to 17 years and a fine of P6.1 million, equivalent to the amount of funds removed from DepEd’s bank account.
The money, which would have been used to pay teachers’ salaries and benefits, remains unaccounted for, according to the Sandiganbayan.
Meanwhile, the anti-graft court acquitted Nieves’ co-accused, DepEd Region 9’s accountant Marilou Tolosa, citing insufficient evidence to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.