Photo credit: Ruffy Biazon

In a major development just in—Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, along with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and several others, has been found guilty of graft by the Sandiganbayan 7th Division. The case is linked to the infamous pork barrel scam that rocked the country more than a decade ago.

The court sentenced Biazon to a jail term of six years and one month up to eight years. On top of that, he’s been slapped with a perpetual disqualification from holding public office, a huge blow for any politician.

But it’s not over just yet.

Mayor Biazon quickly responded to the verdict, saying that he intends to appeal the decision. “I respect the court’s ruling, but I will be appealing it,” he said in a statement.

The case traces back to the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scandal, where lawmakers were accused of funneling public funds into fake NGOs in exchange for kickbacks. Biazon, who was a congressman at the time, was one of those charged.

Janet Napoles, already a central figure in the pork barrel controversy, was also convicted in the same case.

As expected, this development is sending shockwaves across the political scene, especially with Biazon still actively serving as Muntinlupa’s mayor. The coming days will be crucial as the legal process unfolds and his camp formally files an appeal.