MANILA - The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the malversation case filed against former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste after the anti-graft court decided Tuesday that he should not be considered as an "accountable officer" of alleged unliquidated cash advances.

Leviste was accused of taking, misappropriating and embezzling P151,853.42 in cash advances for his personal use from the funds released for his foreign travels when he was chairman of the Philippine Retirement Authority's board of trustees in 2003.

The charge of Failure to Render Accounts cannot prosper "because the elements of this felony necessitate that the offender should be an accountable officer for public funds," the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division said in its decision.

Sandiganbayan dismisses malversation case vs. ex-Batangas Gov. Jose Antonio Leviste. pic.twitter.com/464OxaX2R9

— Carolyn Bonquin (@carolyn_bonquin) October 4, 2016