Sandiganbayan
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Also acquitted in a decision written by Associate Justice Kevin Narce B. Vivero were Edilberto V. Bongon, head of Pili Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (PIPSEMO), and Police Cpl. Joel B. Berja.
They were charged with violation of Section 8 (c) in relation to Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8041, the National Water Crisis Act of 1995, and Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code on grave coercion.
The criminal complaint filed against them stated that they and 16 unidentified persons forcibly prevented the urgent repair and installation of water pipelines by the workers of the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD), the town’s water supplier.
Published February 22, 2021, 9:26 AM
The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Cagayan Gov. Edgar Ramones Lara of two graft charges in connection with the construction of the P213.7 million Cagayan Town Center (CTC) that was primarily funded out of the proceeds of the province’s bonds floatation in 2001.
Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
In a decision promulgated on Feb. 19, 2021, the Sandiganbayan ruled that the prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman “failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt” that Lara violated Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The anti-graft court also ruled that “no civil liability may be adjudged against the accused (Lara) as the act or omission from which the civil liability might arise did not exist.”
Published February 9, 2021, 12:18 PM
The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former mayor Edna V. Ogka Benito of Balabagan town in Lanao del Sur of her graft charges but three of her co-accused were convicted and sentenced to a jail term ranging from six to eight years each.
Sandiganbayan
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Convicted of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, were Municipal Assessor and acting Municipal Budget Officer Sultan Rascal Z. Arimao, Municipal Accountant Najib Alyhar Zacaria, and Assistant Treasurer and acting Municipal Treasurer Casangoan Marohom.
Graft violation under Section 3 (e) is when a public official “causes undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”