Villarosa convicted of graft

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan sentenced yesterday two former mayors to up to 10 years in prison for graft.

Former San Jose, Occidental Mindoro mayor Jose Villarosa and Fidel Anacta Jr. of Eastern Samar  were slapped with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

In a 20-page decision, the anti-graft court said Villarosa was found guilty of nine counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for issuing nine quarrying permits to several individuals and companies despite having no authority to do so.

“Having been expressly notified by…PENRO (provincial environment and natural resources officer) that he had no right to issue the...extraction permits, he not only stubbornly defied the same, but also insistently refused to acknowledge the right of the provincial governor to issue such...permits that are expressly and exclusively granted to the latter by the Local Government Code,” the court ruling stated.

Anacta’s conviction stemmed from a deed of conditional sale that he entered for the purchase of a 16,426 square-meter lot worth P8,213,000 in 2003.

Ombudsman prosecutors said the price was “exorbitant” because its market value was only P58,197.

The court said the municipal council did not approve the purchase. Anacta proceeded with the purchase despite knowing that the municipal government would incur additional cost because of unpaid taxes and lack of right of way, it added.

”It was unlawful for Anacta to disburse the initial payment to the property owner without vesting title to the municipality of Borongan, causing it undue injury,” the court said.

“There is a need to purchase a lot to be converted to a memorial park as the old memorial parks are already congested. However, existing laws and procedures must first be complied with in order to ensure that the general welfare of the people will be promoted,” the anti-graft court declared.