Published December 25, 2020, 2:04 PM
The Sandiganbayan Second Division has acquitted former Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella and two others of their graft charge involving the reportedly anomalous use of the lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2002 to 2005.
Puentevella was accused of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act together with Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 Director Victoriano B. Tirol Jr. for conspiring with Merryland Publishing Corp. President Jessie D. Garcia on the procurement of Information Technology packages at P40,000 each for a total of P26 million.
According to prosecutors, this was a violation of Executive Order No. 40, Series of 2001, and RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.