Ex-LTFRB head gets up to 10 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — Former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) executive director Samuel Aloysius Jardin has been sentenced by the Sandiganbayan to up to 10 years in prison for receiving P4.6 million in bribe money from an applicant in exchange for the issuance of a certificate needed to operate public utility vehicles.

In a decision promulgated on Aug. 14, the court’s Sixth Division found Jardin guilty of violating Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Under Section 3 (c) of the law, public officials are prohibited from “directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present or other pecuniary or material benefit” from anyone in exchange for securing government permit or license.

Jardin was sentenced to six to 10 years in prison. He was ordered to surrender the entire P4.6 million to the Sandiganbayan and was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

 Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2023, the case stemmed from Jardin’s alleged act of demanding and receiving P4.6 million from Michelle Sapangila in exchange for helping her secure a Certificate of Public Convenience or Route Measured Capacity, which is a requirement for the operation of a public transport vehicle.

The ombudsman’s prosecution panel had moved to withdraw the case on the ground that the information supposedly “does not allege any bribery, and thus, the Sandiganbayan does not have jurisdiction over the case.”

The Sixth Division, however, denied the prosecution’s motion, pointing out that while the graft case against Jardin does not allege damage to the government, it still alleges the receipt of bribe money amounting to P4.6 million.

In convicting Jardin, the anti-graft court said there are sufficient testimonial and documentary pieces of evidence, which established his guilt “beyond reasonable doubt.”