Sandigan junks case vs Negros vice mayor

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  – The Sandiganbayan has upheld with finality its previous ruling acquitting Vice Mayor Mark Andrew Golez of Silay City, Negros Occidental from the graft case filed against him and 27 others over an P18-million computerization project of the city government.

In a ruling handed down on Aug. 12,  the anti-graft court dismissed the motion for reconsideration that the state prosecutors filed against Golez questioning his acquittal.

The Sandiganbayan first acquitted Golez on Jan. 7 for lack of probable cause.

It found out that  the vice mayor did not vote for the passage of the resolution backing the computerization project.

As vice mayor, Golez can participate in the deliberations of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the passage of the resolution, the court said.

The law, however, states that a presiding officer will only be allowed to vote to break a tie, which Golez did not do.

All incumbent and former local government officials involved in the case allegedly awarded an information and communications technology project to Systems and Plan Integrators and Development Corp. on Jan. 24, 2008 without conducting a bidding.

Golez welcomed the Sandiganbayan’s decision, saying it will clear his name, as he prepares for the mayoral race in 2016.