Sandiganbayan convicts ex-SK president for graft

MANILA, Philippines — A former Sangguniang Kabataan president in Tagum City has pleaded guilty to a lesser offense after he was charged with graft for allowing unauthorized people to use a government vehicle that was later wrecked in a crash.

In its ruling, the Sandiganbayan First Division convicted Emerson Dave Silutan for “failure of accountable officer to render accounts” and ordered him to pay a P3,000 fine.

Silutan initially pleaded not guilty, but later proposed a plea-bargaining deal after Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib testified for the prosecution.

The former SK head offered to withdraw his not-guilty plea and to instead plead guilty to the lesser offense of failure to render accounts during another arraignment on April 6.

In ruling on the case, the anti-graft court noted that Jubahib had agreed to the deal on the condition that Silutan would pay P1.85 million in cash as restitution to the Davao del Norte provincial government for the damage to the pick-up truck that figured in the car accident.

The crash led the Office of the Ombudsman to charge Silutan, then an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao del Norte, with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

It accused Silutan of acting with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence when he allowed unauthorized people to drive the pickup truck that belonged to the provincial government.

The prosecution said the vehicle was used at 4 a.m., which was outside of regular office hours.

It added that because of his negligence, the vehicle was wrecked in the accident.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the lifting of the hold-departure order against Silutan and the release of his bail bond upon submission of proof that he has paid the P3,000 fine.