Published August 3, 2021, 3:51 PM
Sandiganbayan
The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Mayor Norbideiri B. Edding of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte and several town officials of their graft cases in the alleged irregular signing of checks in 2010.
Also cleared of the charges were Norbryan Edding, Malik Tutuan, Nasser Mahamod, Absar Caril, Jaapal Dodong, Abbas Samson, and Misal Hawari. They were town councilors in 2010.
On Sept. 13, 2010, the accused councilors reportedly convinced Mayor Edding to sign a check amounting to P134,900 intended for salaries of casual employees of the Sangguniang Bayan and approve its disbursement voucher.
The then mayor was also allegedly persuaded to “sign all checks issued for the expenditures appropriated for the operation and obligations of the Sangguniang Bayan of Sibuco and the Vice Mayor’s Office and to approve vouchers in the Vice Mayor’s Office.”