Ex-governor Reyes gets 110 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has sentenced former Palawan governor Joel Reyes to 110 years in prison in connection with questionable contracts worth P1.5 billion that the provincial government entered into during his term.

In a 625-page decision promulgated on Tuesday, the anti-graft court’s Second Division found Reyes guilty of 11 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The law prohibits public officials from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to any party, or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

The anti-graft court sentenced Reyes to six years and one month to 10 years in prison for each count of the offense, or a total of 66 to 110 years.

Aside from prison terms, the Second Division disqualified Reyes from holding public office.

Reyes is not required to serve the total period of his sentence as the country’s penal justice system limits the maximum period of prison terms for a felony to only 40 years.

In the same ruling, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Reyes of three counts of violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 and 22 counts of Section 3(g) after the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Section 3(g) of RA 3019 prohibits public officials from entering into any contract or transaction that is disadvantageous to the government.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2017, the charges stemmed from the awarding of contracts for various construction projects during Reyes’ term as governor in 2008.

Reyes is undergoing trial for the murder of journalist and environmentalist Gerry Ortega in January 2011. He is currently detained at the Puerto Princesa City Jail.

Apart from Reyes, named respondents in the cases were 25 former Palawan officials and 16 private suppliers and contractors.

Records showed that Reyes, in behalf of the provincial government, entered into 203 contracts amounting to P1.5 billion.

The funds used for the contracts  were reportedly sourced from the operation of the Malampaya natural gas project in the province.

The contracts were intended for various public works and infrastructure projects in the municipalities of Balabac, Brook’s Point, Busuanga, Culion Island, Coron,  El Nido, Dumaran, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, Roxas, San Vicente and Taytay as well as Puerto Princesa.

The projects included construction of school buildings, daycare centers and multi-purpose halls; repairs of roads and bridges; improvement of the San Vicente Airport and Coron Bay, and installation of solar panel and street lights.

The court said the ombudsman was able to prove that several provisions of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act were violated in the awarding of the contracts.

The court noted the non-posting of invitations to bid on the provincial government’s website, improper evaluation of bid proposals, non-submission of bidding documents by a majority of contractors, and the lack of requirement for contractors to pay damages in case of delays in the completion of the projects