Sandigan upholds conviction of ex-Camarines Norte governor

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its ruling convicting former Camarines Norte governor Jesus Typoco Jr. of graft over the provincial government’s anomalous procurement of school chairs and gardening kits in 2001 and 2002.

In a resolution promulgated on Feb. 20, the anti-graft court’s second division said Typoco failed to raise any new valid argument in his motion for reconsideration to reverse its Nov. 23, 2018 decision finding the former governor guilty of violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“The court has... ruled that all the elements in the... offense... have been met,” the resolution read.

Typoco was sentenced to a minimum of six years to a maximum of eight years in prison. He was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2008, the case stemmed from the purchase of school armchairs, garden tools and fertilizer amounting to P14,999.980.

The court said the items were procured from Ildefonso Macaraig, owner and proprietor of Crown IBM Trading based in Batangas City, without public bidding and despite lack of a budget appropriation from the provincial board.

The court gave weight to the purchase request and purchase order bearing Typoco’s signature, which he personally handed to Macaraig supposedly as a guarantee of full payment upon full delivery of the items.

In his appeal, Typoco maintained that the questioned documents did not come from his office.

However, the court said Typoco’s defense was rebutted during the trial.

Macaraig filed the complaint, saying he was not paid even after the items were delivered in full and despite repeated demands.