Published March 17, 2021, 1:38 PM
Three former provincial officials of Oriental Mindoro have been convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan in the purchase of P3.2 million worth of fertilizers in 2004.
Convicted were former provincial agriculturist Rodolfo V. Valdez, provincial treasurer Paz P. Fortunato, and accountant Ma. Cynthia A. Puyat.
But the anti-graft court acquitted them of malversation charges for failure of the prosecution to prove that they misappropriated, took, or permitted another person to take public funds.
They were charged with violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and two counts each of violations of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code or Malversation of Public Funds.
Published March 13, 2021, 2:08 PM
The Sandiganbayan has set the trial starting April 14 of the graft and malversation charges filed against former Mayor Edgar G. Rama of Poro, Cebu and four other persons on the alleged irregular purchase of fertilizers worth P5 million in 2005.
MANILA BULLETIN FILE
Trial was set after the anti-graft court dismissed the motion filed by Rama and his group to reconsider the denial of their first motion to junk the charges filed against them.
Aside from Rama, also to undergo trial are bids and awards committee (BAC) members William Surbano, Gorgonia Gonzales, Sergio Zurita, and Nilo Gorgonio.
In their motion for reconsideration, Rama and his co-accused reiterated that the dismissal by the Supreme Court (SC) of the charges filed against their co-accused, North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco and Perzebros Company representative Pompey Perez, must also apply to them.