Ex-Romblon town mayor acquitted of graft

MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor of Looc town in Romblon and five other former municipal officials have been cleared of graft in connection with the implementation of an irrigation project worth P8.9 million in 2007.

Acquitted of the charges were Juliet Ngo-Fiel, former municipal bids and awards committee chairman Solomon Gregorio, former BAC vice chairman Renato Saludaga and former BAC members Jessie Jomadiao, Wilma Pastor and Rolando Gregorio, the Sandiganbayan’s First Division said in a 33-page decision released yesterday.

“Absent any damage nor injury, coupled with the fact that the accused were merely actuated by good faith in acting as they did in the implementation of the project, this court…is inclined to absolve them from the instant criminal charge,” the decision penned by Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona read.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, the case stemmed from the municipal government’s award of a contract to R.G. Florentino Construction and Trading (RGFCT) for the implementation of a small water impounding project.

The project was part of the accelerated hunger mitigation program of the Department of Agriculture implemented during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Under the contract, irrigation systems shall be constructed in Barangays Balatucan, Punta, Buenavista, Pili, Limon Norte and Manhac.

The ombudsman said the contract was awarded to RGFCT without the approval of the Sangguniang Bayan, RGFCT’s lack of qualification and irregularities in the public bidding, among other transactions.

However, the court said the ombudsman failed to present sufficient evidence to prove its allegations.

The court said the pro-secution also failed to present as witness former Looc mayor Manuel Arboleda who filed the complaint.

The Sandiganbayan said it “remains undisputed” that the water projects were completed in accordance with the guidelines and specifications under the contract and turned over and accepted by concerned beneficiaries.