FORMER Cagayan de Oro City councilor President Elipe is set to appeal the Sandiganbayan decision convicting him for graft charges by exhausting all other legal remedies.
Elipe said he may ask the court to reconsider its decision or run to the Supreme Court.
The anti-graft court fourth division has found Elipe and his sister, Pristine Quizon, guilty for graft and falsification of public document.
In a 15-page decision penned by Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz and promulgated last July 6, the Sandiganbayan sentenced the siblings with indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six to 10 years with perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.
They were also made to pay a fine of P5,000 for the falsification charges.
The case stemmed from former city administrator Dionnie Gersana's filing of a complaint against the siblings before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Elipe said his sister was working as his secretary at that time under flexi-time.
Gersana, in his complaint, said Quizon's date and time record (DTR) made it appear that she reported for work during the dates October 25, 29, and 30, 2013 for the payroll period October 16 to 31 2013.
But a travel record from the Bureau of Immigration showed that Quizon had been out of the country on October 25, 2013 and came back to the country only on October 30, 2013.
The Ombudsman said that despite being fully aware of Quizon's absence, Elipe still approved and certified the DTR as true and correct, "making it appear that he verified the hours indicated therein."
As a result, Quizon was able to receive her salary, corresponding to the dates she was absent from work, in the amount of P1,894.08.
"It is also undisputed that both Elipe and Quizon have to take advantage
of their respective official positions to make the falsification possible, as they both have to intervene in the preparation of the assailed DTR," part of the Sandiganbayan ruling read.
"Finally, the falsity of the DTR entries prepared by both accused has been proven beyond reasonable doubt, as accused Quizon was admittedly out of the country and could not have rendered work on the said dates indicated therein," the decision added.
"Nadawat na nako ang decision pero wala ko pa mabasa and I leave it to my lawyer kung unsa next move kay we will exhaust all legal remedies like mag file ta motion for reconsideration or sa Supreme Court," Elipe said.
"We maintain nga we did nothing wrong and gibuhat lang namo ang among trabaho," he added.
Elipe said the case he is facing was, in a way, politically motivated.
He said his political detractors wanted him barred from holding public office.
"Syempre naguol ta but kini pagsulay ug naghinaot ta nga mogawas ang hustisya kay klaro man ang tuyo ani nga pangitaan kog paagi sa mga taong dunay politikanhong katuyuan nga dili gyud ko makahupot og katungdanan (Of course, we feel bad, but this is just a trial and we hope that justice will prevail because it was very clear that our political adversaries will find all means for me not to hold any public office)," Elipe said.
