A regional trial court convicts and sentences an individual accused of trying to defraud the government’s Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP), the Department of Education (DepEd) says. According to DepEd, the accused submitted falsified billing statements to the SHS-VP, an act intended to obtain benefits improperly under the program. DepEd reports that Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced the court’s decision on Wednesday. The outlets state the ruling was issued on July 28 by the regional trial court. The court also imposes a prison term of up to 14 years, eight months, and two days, and a fine of P100,000. The fine is linked to two counts for which the accused is convicted, as described in DepEd’s statement. The reports do not provide additional details on the identity of the accused, the specific documents submitted, or whether the case is being appealed. Both accounts attribute the information to DepEd’s public statement and frame the conviction around attempted fraud through falsified billing in the SHS-VP.