MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the conviction of former Quezon City District III Councilor Dante Manzano De Guzman for graft involving more than ₱6 million worth of ghost projects.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, the SC’s First Division upheld the Sandiganbayan’s ruling finding De Guzman guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Between 2008 and 2009, De Guzman facilitated the procurement of tents, kiddie raincoats, rain boots, food supplies, and sports equipment for distribution to various barangays in his district. Following a bidding process, suppliers were selected and paid after delivering the items to De Guzman’s office.

However, an anonymous complaint received by the Office of the Ombudsman alleged the existence of ghost employees and ghost projects involving several Quezon City councilors, including De Guzman.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found that while the items were delivered and received by De Guzman’s staff, they were never distributed to the intended beneficiaries listed in the official distribution records. Instead, De Guzman made it appear that the goods were received by designated area coordinators, using what appeared to be falsified signatures.

De Guzman was charged with four counts of graft. He denied the allegations, claiming that his signatures on the procurement documents had been forged.

The Sandiganbayan, however, rejected his defense and found him guilty. The Supreme Court later affirmed this ruling.

Under Section 3(e) of RA 3019, graft is committed when a public official causes undue injury to any party or gives unwarranted benefits through manifest partiality, bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence.

The SC ruled that De Guzman’s gross negligence caused undue injury to the Quezon City government, noting that while he was not expected to personally distribute the goods, he was responsible for ensuring they reached their intended recipients. The items, however, were never distributed and could no longer be accounted for, resulting in a financial loss of ₱6,411,261.01.

The high court also dismissed De Guzman’s claim of forgery, saying he failed to prove that the procurement documents—presumed authentic as official records—were falsified.

De Guzman was sentenced to a maximum of eight years in prison for each of the four counts of graft and ordered to pay the Quezon City government ₱6,411,261.01 plus 6% annual interest from the date the decision becomes final until full payment.