MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has convicted the president of Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. (PFI) of malversation over the alleged misuse of PHP2.4 million from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former Malabon-Navotas Rep. Alvin Sandoval.

In a media report, it said that in a decision promulgated Tuesday, the anti-graft court found Petronila Balmaceda guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

The case stemmed from the release of PHP3 million from Sandoval’s 2007 PDAF, which was coursed through the Technology Resource Center (TRC) for livelihood projects in the then-lone district of Malabon-Navotas but was allegedly transferred to PFI instead.

Although the information charged the misappropriation of PHP3 million, the court ruled that Balmaceda could only be held liable for PHP2.4 million after finding that the TRC retained PHP600,000 as service and retention fees.

“The accused conspired with the public officer in siphoning the public money which is supposedly intended for the livelihood projects of the constituents,” the decision penned by Associate Justice Gener Gito said.

The court ordered the case against Balmaceda’s co-accused, former TRC Director General Antonio Ortiz, to be archived as he remains at large.

The trial proceeded against Balmaceda alone, with the court noting that the flight of a co-conspirator does not justify the dismissal of charges against an accused who is already under its jurisdiction.

During the proceedings, Balmaceda denied being an officer of PFI, claimed she had no knowledge of the transactions, and said she did not sign the bank and government documents presented by the prosecution.

However, prosecutors presented a witness from the Land Bank of the Philippines who testified that Balmaceda personally appeared before the bank, presented valid identification, and signed PFI’s specimen signature cards in the witness’s presence.

The prosecution also submitted records from the Securities and Exchange Commission identifying Balmaceda as PFI’s president and showing her long-term residence as the foundation’s official address.

The Sandiganbayan rejected Balmaceda’s defense, describing it as uncorroborated and legally insufficient.

Balmaceda was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term ranging from eight years to 11 years, six months and 22 days.