Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
Aside from Tuquero, also convicted in the decision promulgated on Oct. 9, 2020 were Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members Lourdes Alberto del Rosario, Rosario T. Mollasgo, Domingo Creer Villanueva, William Tuno Tuplano, Horacio Timola Aquino Jr., and Gomercindo Tebelin Litong.
They and former Viga Mayor Jose dela Cruz Toress were found guilty of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in the purchase of a backhoe loader from Compressed Air Machineries Equipment Corporation (CAMEC) for P13.95 million without public bidding and with a declaration that CAMEC was the sole distributor of the equipment.
All the accused were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six years and one month to 10 years with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
MANILA BULLETIN FILE
Tuquero was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act alongside Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members Lourdes Alberto del Rosario, Rosario T. Mollasgo, Domingo Creer Villanueva, William Tuno Tuplano, Horacio Timola Aquino Jr., and Gomercindo Tebelin Litong.
They filed a motion for reconsideration on October 9, 2020 and argued that the facts alleged in the Information constituting the crime of graft was not proven in court.
They said that their co-accused, Mayor Jose dela Cruz Torres, was ousted on May 8, 2006. Hence, they argued, all transactions made by Torres after his ouster was done in his personal capacity. This negates their alleged act of conspiracy with Torres.