Former Malabon-Navotas representative Ricky Sandoval has been cleared of graft and technical malversation charges by the Sandiganbayan in connection with his office’s allegedly questionable purchase of a shredder worth P3 million.
While affirming his conviction, the Sandiganbayan appears to have reduced its sentence against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia in connection with his illegal amassing of wealth amounting to P303 million from 1993 to 2004.
The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division has upheld the conviction of former Surigao del Sur representative Prospero Pichay Jr. over his actions as chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration in 2009.
"Admittedly, defendant Marcos, Jr. et. al. did not attend the hearing dated 13 August 2019 set for the presentation of defendants' evidence. However, in the higher interest of substantial justice, and, considering the nature of the case where defendants stand to lose their properties, the Court denies the instant motion and hereby gives the defendants another chance to present their evidence in support of their defense," the Sandiganbayan said.
The Sandiganbayan has barred eight defendants from participating in the trial of a civil case filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government to recover the government’s majority shares in Domestic Satellite Philippines Inc. which were allegedly illegally obtained by a private company through a supposedly disadvantageous contract entered into by the cronies of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.