Ex-Lucena mayor acquitted of graft

MANILA, Philippines — Former Lucena mayor Ramon Talaga Jr. and nine former city councilors have been cleared of graft in connection with the alleged illegal grant of a gaming franchise to a businessman.

In a 16-page decision released yesterday, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division said the prosecution failed to prove that the grant of the franchise to Jose Sy Bang Sr. on June 5, 2000 was in exchange for the businessman’s support for Talaga during a recall election.

The anti-graft court said there was no evidence that Talaga conspired with former councilors Godofredo Faller, Victor Paulo, Danilo Zaballero, Salome Dato, Simon Aldovino, Wilfredo Asilo, Philip Castillo, Aurora Garcia and Ramon Franco Talaga to pass City Ordinance 1963 granting Sy Bang a franchise to operate bingo for three years.

The court said the prosecution failed to establish that Talaga’s endorsement to the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Sy Bang’s letter of request for a franchise ”was outside of the usual course of his duties as city mayor or that the endorsement amounted to a deliberate attempt to influence the council.”

Records showed there were no other applicants for the same franchise, the court said.

The Sandiganbayan said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has the power to grant gaming franchises, and it was Pagcor’s franchise that allowed Sy Bang to operate his bingo outlet and not the city council ordinance.

The court also questioned why former councilor Roderick Alcala, who also voted in favor of the city ordinance, was not included in the charge sheet.

“To a certain extent, this creates a negative impression on the manner by which the preliminary investigation was conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman and puts in doubt the motive behind the filing of this case,” the court said.