The Sandiganbayan has found the former manager of the Bacolod City Water District guilty of three counts of falsification of public documents involving P1,700 and sentenced her to more than 10 years imprisonment.

The 32-page Sandiganbayan Fourth Division decision against Juliana Tan promulgated on Jan. 24, 2006, was penned by Associate Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada and concurred in by Associate Justices Gregory Ong and Jose Hernandez.

In Criminal Cases No 26339, 26349 and 26341 Tan was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of falsification of private documents and sentenced to one year and one day to three years six months and 21 days imprisonment for each case, or a total of three years and three days as minimum to 10 years, six months and 63 days as maximum.

She was also ordered to pay a fine of P1,700.

In Criminal Case 23639 information filed states that on March 6, 1998 Tan falsified sales invoice No. 516176 of Hotel Del Rio, Iloilo City, adding the figure four before the original amount of P88 for meals making it appear that she spent P488.

In Criminal Case 23640, Tan is said to have added the figure one before the amount P363 in Hotel del Rio Invoice No. 516175 making it appear that she spent P1,363 for meals on March 6, 1998.

In Criminal Case No. 23641 information filed said Tan falsified Order Slip No. 2242 issued by La Fiesta Hotel, Iloilo City, by adding the figure three before the original amount of P70 to make it appear that she spent P370 for meals on March 6, 1998.

Under the circumstances there is no doubt that the acts of falsification are related to Tan's official position in BACIWA since she used the altered documents to support her liquidation statement and request for reimbursement, the Sandigabayan decision said.

Tan was acquitted in Criminal case 26342 for insufficiency of evidence for allegedly converting for her personal use P301 representing the difference between her cash advance of P5,390 and her legitimate expenses of P5,088.69.

Tan could not be located for comment as of press time last night.*CPG

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