Dennis Cunanan Acquitted in Money Laundering Case Involving ‘Pork Barrel’ Scam

Manila, Philippines — September 25, 2024 — The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division has cleared former deputy director general of the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), Dennis Cunanan, of all charges related to a money laundering case stemming from the alleged misuse of P22.5 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations from 2007.

In its 36-page decision promulgated on September 18, 2024, the anti-graft court ruled that Cunanan’s liability in connection to the allegations of money laundering was not sufficiently proven. The case was tied to former senator Gregorio Honasan’s PDAF, which was meant for livelihood projects in Isabela and Cagayan but was never implemented. The funding had been channeled through Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. (PFI).

This acquittal follows a money laundering case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2022. See also here