The Sandiganbayan has denied a request from a bedridden former official to serve her graft sentence at home. The court found no legal basis for such an arrangement.
The Third Division of the Sandiganbayan issued the resolution on May 25. It turned down the motion filed by Zosima Cuizon, former municipal budget officer of Dapa in Surigao del Norte.
Cuizon and two others were convicted of graft over the irregular procurement of 13.03 million pesos worth of heavy equipment in 2008. They each received prison terms of six to eight years and were barred from public office.
The court noted that Philippine law permits home service only for short penalties of up to 30 days. It advised Cuizon to seek executive clemency instead and directed the Bureau of Corrections to address her medical needs.