MANILA - The Sandiganbayan cleared a former Surigao del Sur mayor and 12 others indicted five years ago in connection with alleged anomalies in the purchase of earth-moving equipment. The anti-graft court acquitted former Bislig City mayor Librado Navarro and 12 others, who were linked to an alleged anomalous purchase of a hydraulic excavator worth PHP14.75 million in 2012. In 2017, the Ombudsman charged them with violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in 2017, "causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any 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." However, the 56-page decision dated February 21, said with respect to the mayor's approval of awarding of the contract, "the Court finds that manifest partiality, e
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