Sandigan upholds graft conviction of ex-PTA head Dean Barbers

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of Robert Dean Barbers, former general manager of the defunct Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), for graft in connection with a sports complex project in Intramuros, Manila, which was later demolished for being illegal.

In a 17-page resolution promulgated on Sept. 5, the court’s Special Sixth Division denied the appeals of Barbers, former PTA department manager Armando Miranda and former deputy general manager Edgar Bocar, who sought to reverse their June 27, 2025 conviction for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“In this case, the prosecution successfully proved that the negligent acts of the accused before, during and after the procurement, implementation and payment of the project rose to the level of both ‘gross and inexcusable’ as contemplated under Section 3(e) of RA 3019,” the Special Sixth Division said.

“In all, the court finds no cogent reason to reverse its decision finding the accused guilty of violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 through gross inexcusable negligence,” it added.

Barbers and former PTA deputy general manager Jose Dion Diaz were earlier convicted of one count each of graft, while Miranda and Bocar were found guilty of two and three counts, respectively.

They were sentenced to six to eight years in prison for each count, perpetually disqualified from public office and ordered to jointly pay the government P3.7 million.

Miranda and Bocar were also directed to return P5.1 million in partial payments released to contractor I.A. Bosque Construction Corporation.

Filed by the ombudsman in 2021, the case stemmed from the 2005 awarding of the P24-million project to I.A. Bosque Construction despite lack of approval from the PTA Board and the Intramuros Administration (IA).

The ombudsman said Barbers authorized the release of P3.71 million in mobilization fees without the required permits, while Miranda and Bocar approved additional payments of P1.05 million and P4.06 million.

The Manila Regional Trial Court later declared the project illegal and ordered its demolition.

In upholding its June 27 decision, the Sandiganbayan maintained that Barbers and his co-accused could not invoke the supposed lack of irregularities on the face of the disbursement vouchers that would have prompted them to stop their release or investigate the project’s implementation.

“In sum, the PTA Sports Complex Project would not have pushed through, despite the lack of the required permits, without the confluence of the accused’s grossly and inexcusably negligent acts and omissions,” the resolution read.

“The accused knew of the requirement for the IA’s approval of the PTA Sports Complex Project and the IA’s disapproval thereof. Despite these, they proceeded with the implementation and payment of the project, causing injury to the government,” it added.