The Sandiganbayan has sentenced former Quezon City councilor Dante de Guzman to over 100 years in prison for multiple counts of graft and malversation over a ghost employee payroll scheme in 2009.
In its Aug. 12 decision, the court’s Fifth Division found him guilty of 16 counts each of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and committing malversation through falsification of public documents, involving ₱361,500 in salaries and bonuses for non-existent workers.
Although the total sentence amounts to nearly 300 years, De Guzman will serve a maximum of 40 years under Philippine penal law.
He was also ordered to return the malversed amount with 6% annual interest, forfeit retirement benefits, and face perpetual disqualification from public office.
The court said documentary evidence showed a “systematic and well-coordinated” payroll scheme that could not have been carried out without De Guzman’s direct participation.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 15, 2025
