Ex-Camarines Norte governor gets 8 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — Former Camarines Norte governor Jesus Typoco Jr. has been sentenced to up to eight years in prison over irregularities in the provincial government’s procurement of school chairs and gardening kits amounting to P14.9 million.

In a 22-page decision promulgated on Friday and released yesterday, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division said the Office of the Ombudsman established Typoco’s guilt for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Typoco was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The case stemmed from the procurement in 2001 and 2002 of school armchairs, garden tools and fertilizers for distribution to public schools in the province.

The Sandiganbayan said the prosecution proved that the items were procured from Crown IBM Trading in Batangas City owned by Ildefonso Macaraig without public bidding and despite the lack of budget appropriation.

The court gave weight to the purchase request and order bearing Typoco’s signature as guarantee that Macaraig would be paid the full amount after delivery of all the procured items. 

However, the Sandiganbayan said no payment was made to Macaraig even after the items were delivered and despite repeated demands for payment.

While Macaraig was given unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference by Typoco, the former governor has also caused “undue injury” to the former, the court said.

“The fact that he (Typoco) failed to comply with the requirements of RA 7160 (Local Government Code) on government acquisition of supplies proves that unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference was given to private complainant who was just too unlucky to have failed in securing payment for the items the accused have caused to be delivered,” the Sandiganbayan decision read.

The court dismissed the case for estafa filed against Typoco over the same procurement.

The prosecution failed to establish the “element of deceit” on the part of Typoco when he induced Macaraig to deliver the procured items, the Sandiganbayan said.