Ex-Sibugay mayor appeals conviction for graft

MANILA, Philippines — A former municipal mayor in Zamboanga Sibugay will appeal the decision of the Sandiganbayan convicting her and four others in connection with the anomalous purchase of heavy equipment amounting to P8.8 million.

In a resolution promulgated on Nov. 27, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division said former mayor Gemma Adana of Naga town and her co-respondents informed the court that they were appealing the ruling before the Supreme Court (SC).

The four others are former bids and awards committee chairman Roland Grijalvo and BAC members Felix Timsan, Emmanuel Enteria and Jonathan Cartagena.

The accused each paid the required docket fees amounting to P3,000.

The anti-graft court directed the Division Clerk of Court to transmit the records of the case to the high tribunal.

In a decision handed down in July last year, the Sandiganbayan found Adana and the four others guilty for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The anti-graft court sentenced the accused to imprisonment of six to eight years and disqualified them from holding public office.

On Oct. 4, the Sixth Division affirmed its decision, noting the accused failed to raise new arguments that could warrant the reversal of the ruling.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2016, the case stemmed from the local government’s award of a contract involving the purchase of a road grader, payloader, roller and two dump trucks to CVCK Trading in 2007.