Sandiganbayan orders ex-mayor's arrest for graft

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan yesterday ordered the arrest of a former town mayor of Zambales who ran for provincial board member in the May 2010 polls despite being convicted of graft in 2008.

The anti-graft court’s First Division, headed by Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz, junked former Castillejos mayor Teofilo Pantaleon Jr.’s motion to again reset the execution of judgment because he is ill.

Prosecution Bureau 6 Director Diosdado Calonge said he objected to another request for postponement since Pantaleon has been delaying the proceedings for almost two years since he was found guilty of graft in October 2008.

Ruling in favor of the prosecution, the Sandiganbayan denied Pantaleon’s motion and ordered for the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

Calonge, in an interview with The STAR, said the former mayor, who was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office, has been repeatedly claiming that he is sick.

In his latest medical certificate issued only last Tuesday, his doctor at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City said he suffers from chronic hypertension, dizziness, and difficulty in breathing due to diabetes complications.

Calonge, however, called the court’s attention to the fact that despite being instructed to rest for one week while taking medication, Pantaleon decided to go back to Zambales after being diagnosed as ill.

Presenting a photograph, he also bared that the former mayor ran for a seat in the provincial board last month despite his alleged health condition.

“Why travel all the way back to Zambales from Quezon City if he is ill,” Calonge told The STAR. He said Pantaleon should now serve his sentence of six to 10 years in jail.

Pantaleon was found guilty of violating Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act on Oct. 17, 2008 for giving unwarranted benefits and preference to a contractor for a project to improve a municipal park.

Calonge said Pantaleon also awarded the contract worth P1.5 million to a private firm without conducting a public bidding as required by law.