Sajid Ampatuan was elected as vice governor of Maguindanao in the 2004 elections while his father Andal Ampatuan Sr. was elected as governor of the province. Ampatuan Sr. resigned in 2008 with Sajid succeeding him. Sajid Ampatuan himself vacated the office following the Maguindanao massacre on November 2009 in the municipality of Ampatuan.[1] He and his brothers Zaldy, Anwar and Andal Jr., and brother-in-law Akmad were implicated to the massacre and were detained. He was released on bail in March 2015[2] and acquitted in 2019.[3]
In 2017, several corruption charges were filed against Ampatuan which is connected to his tenure as acting governor of Maguindanao from 2008 to 2009.[4]
Since October 2022, he has been convicted by the Sandiganbayan at least five times.[7][8]
October 2022: He was sentenced to 128–170 years of imprisonment for charges of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. He and former provincial budget officer Datu Ali Abpi were involved in the supposed procurement of food supplies in 2009 even though no such purchases were made. Both accused were sentenced to 6–8 years imprisonment for each of 4 counts of graft. They were then sentenced to reclusión perpetua for each of 3 counts of malversation of public funds, and perpetually disqualified to hold public office; while 14–18 years for the fourth count. Abpi was also convicted of another count of graft and malversation.[5][9][10]
January 2023: In connection with several "ghost" road rehabilitation projects; eight counts each of graft and falsification of public documents, with a prison sentence of 64–112 years in total. He was also ordered arrested for his failure to attend on the promulgation of the decision. Five engineers were convicted of falsification charges as well.[11][12]
February 2023: In connection to the "ghost" procurement of construction materials in 2009; the Office of the Ombudsman in 2017 filed 144 cases against him and Abpi, including falsification of public documents (136 counts), graft and malversation of public funds (4 counts each). He was convicted of 126 counts of falsification and all of other charges and was sentenced to 848–994 years in total. The latter, despite had reportedly died, was convicted of all charges and given a longer prison sentence.[13][14] In April, the court, declaring the decision as final and executory, barred him from filing an appeal after his failure to appear in court during promulgation and to surrender in person.[15][16]
March 2023: He was sentenced to reclusión perpetua for malversation of public funds and another 8–12 years for graft, over fake purchases of farm supplies in 2009.[7][17]
May 2023: In connection with "ghost" purchases of emergency food supplies to a non-existent supplier in 2009. He and Abpi were sentenced to 6–10 years for graft and 10–18 years for malversation; while were acquitted in 34 counts of falsification. The cases against two co-defendants (also involved in three earlier cases) are archived since they were not arraigned; two others (among the three involved in two) had died. All living accused remain at large.[8][18][19]