Ex-South Cotabato mayor gets 10 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines - A former mayor of South Cotabato has been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison over an anomalous transaction in 1995. 

The Sandiganbayan found former Koronadal City mayor Fernando Miguel guilty of rigging the procurement of the architectural and engineering design and construction management of the city’s public market. 

The anti-graft court said Miguel was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.     

Investigation showed that Miguel as chairman of the prequalification, evaluation, and awards committee made it appear that bidding for consultancy services actually took place by publishing the supposed invitation to bid in a newspaper. 

Graft probers said Miguel faked pre-qualification bid documents to award the contract to a favored contractor. They added that the city council resolution approved the project only after the contract was awarded.  

“Miguel from the very beginning favored only Gaspar Nepomuceno and all efforts were made so that the consultancy services will be awarded to the latter,” the anti-graft court said in a 22-page decision issued yesterday, referring to the contractor.

The case against Nepomuceno was archived but the court issued a warrant for his arrest.