Sandiganbayan Dismisses Graft Charges Against Precious Hipolito-Castelo
The Sandiganbayan has cleared former Quezon City Representative Precious Hipolito-Castelo and 11 others of graft linked to the alleged irregular implementation of the Department of Labor and Employment’s cash-for-work program. This decision comes after the court reversed its earlier ruling affirming the charges against them.
According to court records, the dismissal pertains to accusations related to the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program. Officials reported that the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division issued a resolution on August 20, formally dropping the graft charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against Hipolito-Castelo and her co-respondents.
Details of the Court Resolution
The anti-graft court cited the Supreme Court’s April 2 ruling, which cleared the former lawmaker and others of estafa through falsification and graft. The high court found “an abject paucity of evidence to establish probable cause” against the accused, leading to the dismissal of the case.
Community members noted that the Sandiganbayan received the Supreme Court’s entry of judgment dated July 11. This entry certified the resolution as “final and executory,” effectively exonerating Hipolito-Castelo and the other accused individuals.
Background of the Case and Previous Decisions
Earlier, on June 3, the Sandiganbayan had affirmed the charges against Hipolito-Castelo and her co-accused, denying their three separate motions to quash. In her defense, Hipolito-Castelo argued that the prosecution failed to prove any bad faith, partiality, or gross negligence in the alleged anomalies involving the Tupad funds.
However, the court initially found that the elements of the crimes cited in the Ombudsman’s complaint were sufficient. It stated that the accused’s actions “caused undue injury and defrauded the government” of more than one million pesos.
Official Court Statement and Concurring Opinions
The resolution penned by Associate Justice Karl Miranda, who chairs the Third Division, stated, “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 Informations in the first place.”
Associate Justices Ronald Moreno and Edgardo Caldona concurred with this decision, reinforcing the dismissal of the charges.
Allegations and Investigation
The Ombudsman initially filed the complaint against Hipolito-Castelo and her co-respondents for allegedly pocketing funds intended for cash aid under the DOLE’s Tupad program. They were also accused of falsifying documents required for fund disbursement.
Local leaders recalled that then-Ombudsman Samuel Martires launched a motu proprio investigation in 2022, focusing on alleged anomalies in the Tupad program’s implementation, especially in Quezon City. Reports of beneficiaries receiving reduced cash payouts led the labor department to suspend the program in the city.
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