Published May 7, 2021, 3:43 PM
Sandiganbayan
The Sandiganbayan has acquitted two former officials of the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and two private individuals of their graft charges involving the alleged illegal sale, transport and export of extracted minerals in 2011 and 2012.
Acquitted of two graft charges each were former BENRO Provincial Department Head Rustico de Belen and Officer-in-Charge of the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Division Antonio A. Cacdac.
Also acquitted were private individuals Lucila S. Valdez and Eduardo D. Mercado were charged with four counts of graft each.
With their acquittal, the anti-graft court ordered the P240,000 bail of De Belen released, while the bonding company of Cacdac, Valdez and Mercado was ordered relieved of its obligations and duties as bondsman.