Ex-Zamboanga del Norte mayor gets 4 years for falsification

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has sentenced to four years in prison a former municipal mayor in Zamboanga del Norte for falsification of public documents.

Former Labason mayor Wilfredo Balais reportedly used fake documents to sell his own vehicle to the municipal government at a price almost double its initial value.

In a decision promulgated on July 22, the anti-graft court sentenced Balais to a minimum of two years to a maximum of four years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of P10,000.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2018, the case stemmed from Balais’ alleged falsification of a notice of award dated Jan. 20, 2011 for the procurement of a vehicle requested by the office of then vice mayor Virgilio Go.

The ombudsman said Balais made it appear in the notice of award that the price offered by the supposed bidding winner Oro Cars Display Center amounting to P960,000 was accepted by the municipal government.

In convicting Balais, the Sandiganbayan said the ombudsman’s prosecution team presented proof showing no public bidding was conducted for the procurement of the vehicle.

“It was established during trial that the same vehicle was originally owned by Balais, which he sold to a certain Eduardo Ayunting on Nov. 26, 2010 for P500,000,” the anti-graft court said.

Two months later, Ayunting, as a representative of Oro Cars, sold the vehicle to the municipal government.

The check that the local government paid to Oro Cars was traced to the personal bank account of Balais.