Published February 13, 2021, 10:51 AM
Former mayor Alberto Bacaylan Acain of Libertad, Misamis Oriental and four other town officials have been sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to eight years in each of the two counts of graft charges filed against them in the irregular purchase of P4.9 million worth of fertilizers in 2004.
Also convicted by the Sandiganbayan were former municipal engineer Oscar Anino Benlot, municipal civil registrar Isidro Namocot Gervacio, municipal budget officer Elizabeth Abut Pagalan, and municipal assessor Sergio Agagaring Jacalan Jr.
The anti-graft court ruled that the purchase was “hastily conducted” and “was concluded even without any validation of the relevant documents submitted or background checks or post-qualification of the supplier,”