April 28, 2026 — The Sandiganbayan has ordered former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official Roberto Esquivel and his wife Marissa to return over ₱5.3 million in unlawfully acquired wealth, after the couple withdrew their appeal and agreed to settle the judgment. The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division confirmed the forfeiture of their assets in favor of the government.

In a resolution dated April 21, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the appellate proceedings filed by Esquivel, former director of the MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group, and his wife Marissa, a former Project Development Officer at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. The couple manifested that they were “no longer interested in pursuing their appeal” and intended to forfeit ₱5,307,079.70 to the state.

The case originated from a petition filed by the Office of the Ombudsman under Republic Act No. 1379, which allows the forfeiture of properties deemed unlawfully acquired and disproportionate to a public officer’s income. In January 2023, the San Pedro City Regional Trial Court ruled that the Esquivels had amassed ₱6.8 million in unexplained wealth. A motion for reconsideration later reduced the amount to ₱5.3 million.

The RTC issued a writ of attachment against the couple’s properties, which remained in effect during the appeals process. In 2025, the Esquivels attempted to withdraw their appeal before the Court of Appeals, but the CA ruled it had no jurisdiction, noting that the Sandiganbayan has exclusive authority over civil forfeiture cases.

By settling the amount, the Esquivels effectively ended the case, with the Sandiganbayan affirming that “there is no longer any rhyme or reason to further maintain or otherwise carry forward the present appellate proceedings.”

This ruling underscores the government’s continuing effort to recover unlawfully acquired wealth from public officials, reinforcing accountability measures under the country’s anti-graft laws. The forfeited amount will now revert to the state, closing a case that has spanned more than three years.