Ex-Samar mayor cleared in medicine supply deal

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandigabayan has acquitted a former municipal mayor in Samar in a graft case involving the purchase of medicine and medical supplies amounting to P2.42 million from alleged unqualified suppliers.

Former mayor Alejandro Abarratigue of Hinabangan town was cleared along with six former municipal officials: bids and awards committee chair Esmeralda Frincillo and former BAC members Lesarbo Mengote, Raul Tapia, Renato Abayare, Roel Pazon and Alan Babon.

In a 48-page decision promulgated on June 18, the anti-graft court said the prosecution team of the Office of the Ombudsman failed to show sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the defendants.

Abarratique and his co-accused were charged with four counts of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Filed by the ombudsman in 2017, the cases stemmed from the award of four contracts for medical supply.

The ombudsman said the respondents awarded the contracts even as the firms failed to meet the eligibility requirement provided under the Government Procurement Reform Act.