Ex-QC lawmaker, 11 others cleared of graft over cash-for-work program
The Sandiganbayan has reversed its June 3 resolution that affirmed the graft charges against former Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo and 11 coaccused for supposedly pocketing over P1 million in funds for the implementation of the labor department’s cash-for-work Tupad program.
In a three-page resolution promulgated on Aug. 20, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division dismissed the charges against Hipolito and the others named in the complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, namely Rosalie Buena, Margie Varon, Jacquelyn Sales, Elizabeth Martinez, Elnor Magculang, Emma Agraan, Maria Theresa Encallado, Leonora Bernardo, Anabelle Ocfemia, Edilbert Valerio and Eliseo Hermoso.
The antigraft court said this was in accordance with the April 2 resolution of the Supreme Court that cleared Castelo and company of the charges of estafa through falsification and graft due to “an abject paucity of evidence to establish probable cause” against them.
According to the Sandiganbayan, it received from the high tribunal the entry of judgment dated July 11, which certified its resolution clearing Castelo and her coaccused as “final and executory.”
Back in June, the antigraft court said the actions of the former House representative and the 11 others “caused undue injury and defrauded the government” of over P1 million.
The Ombudsman began investigating the matter in 2022 and filed a complaint against the accused for allegedly pocketing the funds for the Tupad program and fabricating the required documents for the money’s disbursement.
“In view of the Supreme Court Resolution dated April 2, 2025 and the Entry of Judgment dated July 11, 2025, the court dismisses the cases as there being no probable cause for the Ombudsman to file [the] informations in the first place,” read the Sandigan resolution penned by Associate Justice Karl Miranda, the division chair, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Ronald Moreno and Edgardo Caldona.
