Published February 15, 2021, 2:41 PM
Twenty-five incumbent and former officials of Silay City in Negros Occidental have been cleared of graft charges involving P18 million in information technology project that was contracted directly with the supplier in 2008.
Cleared were former Mayor Jose L. Montelibano; incumbent councilor Michael S. Maravilla and former councilors Jose Raymundo S. Locsin, Mario S. Torres, Ramon L. Jison, Salvador S. Segovia, Joedith C. Gallego, and April Grace O. De Los Reyes; City Administrator Ignacio J. Salmingo; officer-in-charge Elsie S. Jimenea of the office of the treasurer; and officer-in-charge Emmanuel S. Arsenal of the office of the city accountant.
Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
In a resolution, the Sandiganbayan said “there is an absence of clear factual basis to support the finding that the subject contract is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the government.”
It said the prosecution “merely presented voluminous documents without sufficiently proving its case, and it also failed to show bad faith or malice on the part of accused Galsim.”
Galsim was accused of violating Section 3(g) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, when he purchased on behalf of the municipality a 2,123-square-meter lot in Poblacion II, Sta. Cruz, owned by Teresita Asis Mercene for P702.70 per square meter.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In clearing Cañeda, the anti-graft court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that there was manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence on his part in the distribution of the funds.
Written by Associate Justice Michael Frederick L. Musngi, the court’s resolution stated that Cañeda did not abuse his authority in transferring to beneficiaries the P49 million he received for the implementation of the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Project (FIFIP) of the DA.
Cañeda was charged with violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for causing undue injury to the government in the amount of P4 million.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Campeon was initially accused of violating Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, otherwise known as Malversation of Public Funds, for receiving the proceeds from the sale of 2,000 liters of automotive diesel fuel intended for MCS Patrol Boat 3004 in the amount of P59,800 on July 30, 2005.
In its ruling, the anti-graft court said the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused, so Campeon was ordered acquitted of his charge.
Campeon admitted that he received the said proceeds of the sale, and he even signed the Cash Voucher as the recipient of the funds. The prosecution contended that Campeon misappropriated the money for his personal use because he did not immediately make an accounting of the amount to BFAR.