Leyte mayor gets 8 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Sixto de la Victoria of Albuera, Leyte has been convicted of graft.

In a 16-page decision promulgated on March 6, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division said De la Victoria was found guilty of violating Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits public officials from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to a private party or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

The anti-graft court sentenced De la Victoria to up to eight years in prison and ordered his perpetual disqualification from holding public office. 

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2012, the case stemmed from the municipal government’s purchase of a reconditioned Mitsubishi 4WD military- type jeep worth P350,000 from 877 Motors Corp. on Feb. 4, 2003.

The ombudsman said there was no public bidding, which is required under the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The court said De la Victoria resorted to direct contracting without any valid justification, such as proof that 877 Motors was an exclusive distributor of the vehicle.

The court said records show that Cebu Titan Surplus Inc. quoted the same type of vehicle at a lower price.

The decision was penned by Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna. It was concurred by Associate Justices Oscar Herrera Jr. and Michael Frederick Musngi.