Sandigan metes ex-Davao town mayor with 10-year jail term

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former town mayor in Davao Oriental and three other local executives to a 10-year jail term for the ghost deliveries of auto spare parts in 2002.

The anti-graft court also ordered ex-Baganga town mayor Gerry Morales, municipal engineer Roseller Jimenez Macayra, municipal accountant Emeritos Jovilla and municipal treasurer to indemnify the government of more than P100,000 in damages.

The appellate court ruled that several procurement violations were committed by then local government executives for buying 10 exterior tires from Donald Villademosa, owner of Villtrade Marketing in October 2002.

The Commission on Audit discovered that the abstract of canvass was not referred to the Committee on Awards and that the purchase order with certification as to the availability of funds was unsigned.

Villtrade Marketing is not engaged in the dealership of auto spare parts and that the items purchased were not delivered, the COA findings showed.

"By allowing the disbursement of public funds in the amount of P101,086.37 and paying the same to the Villtrade Marketing despite the fact that no tires were delivered, accused caused actual damage to the municipality of Baganga and conferred unwarranted benefit to Villtrade Marketing," the Sandiganbayan decision said.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan also issued warrants of arrest against general services officer Reymundo Escamillan and Villademosa who remain at-large.