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Ombudsman junks case vs suspended Tabuk City, Kalinga mayor
Tabuk City, Kalinga province Mayor Darwin Estranero will be back to work on April 1 after the case filed against him in connection to the alleged overpricing of medical equipment for his town was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman......»»
Capitol mulls putting ‘integrated south bus’ terminal in Talisay instead of at SRP
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Instead of at the South Road Properties (SRP), the new location of a new south bus terminal in Cebu might be in Talisay City. Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday, Mar. 27, said that they had received an unsolicited proposal of developing a brand new, south bus terminal. READ: Mayor Rama.....»»
SC allows UN expert to act as friend of the court in Maria Ressa s cyber libel plea
Irene Khan, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, has been allowed by the Supreme Court (SC) to sit as an "amicus curiae" to the court in the appeal for the cyber libel case of Rappler.com chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos......»»
Ex-Munti mayor cleared of P97 million graft charge
The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Muntinlupa mayor Aldrin San Pedro of a graft case that stemmed from the allegedly anomalous procurement of P97.52 million worth of fire trucks from 2008 to 2009......»»
Cebu lampposts case: SC clears DPWH execs, contractor of graft
The Supreme Court acquitted three former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a private contractor of graft charges in relation to the installation of allegedly overpriced lampposts during the 2007 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit held in Cebu. In a 22-page decision promulgated on Oct. 11, 2023, but made public only.....»»
Ex-Iloilo lawmaker acquitted of ‘pork’ rap
The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Iloilo 5th District representative Rolex Suplico of a graft case in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel amounting P14.7 million in 2007......»»
SC acquits 2 in drug case over mishandled evidence
Two persons convicted of illegal drugs have been acquitted by the Supreme Court (SC) due to lapses in the handling of evidence against them......»»
The case of Manalo brothers
The Manalo brothers continue to fight for justice as Bulacan court acquitted retired major Jovito Palparan over the kidnapping and illegal detention charges. The post The case of Manalo brothers appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Remulla sees De Lima acquittal in last drug case
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla thinks former senator Leila de Lima will likely be acquitted in her remaining drug case after a Muntinlupa court granted her bail on Nov. 13......»»
Janet Napoles found guilty of 8 graft, malversation raps; given 64 yrs in jail
MANILA, Philippines — Janet Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the pork barrel scam, is found guilty of eight charges of graft and malversation, the Sandiganbayan said on Friday, Oct. 20. Napoles, together with former National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor) officials Rhodora Mendoza, Victor Cacal, and Maria Ninez Guañizo, were also found guilty of graft and malversation charges. Napoles was proven to have violated Republic Act (RA) 3019 or Anti-graft and Practices Act. “The court finds accused Rhodora B. Mendoza, Maria Ninez P. Guanizo, Victor Roman C. Cacal, and Janet L. Napoles guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019, as amended, and are hereby sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six years and one month, as a minimum, to 10 years, as maximum, and to suffer perpetual disqualification from holding public office,” reads the decision from the Special Second Division of the anti-graft court. Napoles and the Nabcor officials were found guilty of four counts of corruption, and four counts of malversation of public funds. Collectively, the charges translate to 64 years of imprisonment at the minimum and 82 years at most. Sandiganbayan also ordered Napoles to pay government P41 million in damages. Each malversation charge requires Napoles to pay the equivalent amount of money involved in the criminal offense. Meanwhile, former South Cotabato Representative Arthur Pingoy Jr. was acquitted of graft and malversation charges in the same court decision. RELATED STORIES Napoles cleared in one pork barrel case but convicted in another Sandiganbayan acquits Napoles in 16 graft raps over pork barrel scam ‘Janet Lim Napoles’ listed among convicts freed on good conduct.....»»
Argentina court acquits nuns of sex abuse
Two nuns and seven other female employees of an Argentine institute for deaf children were acquitted by a court Wednesday of sexual abuse and rape. The ruling, broadcast on public television, concluded a trial of two-and-a-half years in a case that has shocked the home country of Pope Francis. Two priests in charge of children at the Antonio Provolo center — Horacio Corbacho and Nicola Corradi — have been convicted and handed sentences of more than 40 years each for sexual abuse, including rape, of some 20 minors. The victims were aged four to 17 when the crimes were committed from 2004 to the closure of the institute in 2016. The institution’s gardener, Armando Gomez, has also been jailed for 18 years for sexual abuse, and a former altar boy pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of five children. Several staff were taken into custody after allegations of abuse first surfaced in 2016, and the institute was shut down. The latest case focused on the alleged abuse of 11 of the children. In the dock were Japanese nun Kumiko Kosaka and Paraguayan Asuncion Martinez, as well as a former cook, a psychologist, a legal representative and school director, and three other employees. Kosaka stood accused of aggravated sexual abuse and covering up the crimes, and Martinez of “corruption of minors,” among other alleged offenses. A panel of three judges on Wednesday acquitted Kosaka, Martinez, and all seven others. Ariel Lizarraga, father of one of the accusers, described the outcome as “total injustice.” The post Argentina court acquits nuns of sex abuse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder
The Sandiganbayan yesterday convicted Janet Lim Napoles of nine counts of corruption of a public official, but acquitted her of plunder over the so-called “pork barrel fund scandal.” Likewise found guilty of nine counts of direct bribery by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division was former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives Partylist Rep. Edgar Valdez. The convictions were in relation to the misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF. Napoles and Valdez were each sentenced to imprisonment of two years and four months up to six years and one day, and were each meted out a fine of P26,996,700. The cases stemmed from the charges of plunder filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman, which alleged that five lawmakers, including Valdez, channeled their PDAFs to Napoles’ fake non-government organizations in exchange for kickbacks. According to the information filed by the Ombudsman, Valdez received P56 million in kickbacks from Napoles. The amount was over the P50-million threshold for the crime of plunder. Lacking evidence Former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, were among the other lawmakers accused of plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam. Revilla was acquitted in 2018 but the cases against the others are still pending before the Sandiganbayan. Enrile, Estrada and Seachon-Lanete were granted bail. The dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan’s ruling said the evidence to prove plunder against Napoles and Valdez was lacking. “The Court finds accused Edgar de Leon Valdez and Janet Lim Napoles not guilty of plunder due to insufficient evidence proving that they had, through conspiracy, amassed, accumulated, and or acquired at least 50 million pesos of PDAF funds through kickbacks and/or commissions,” the decision read in part. Valdez was allowed to post bail in 2016 after the Fifth Division said the prosecution was only able to prove that Valdez received P2.6 million, and not P56 million, in kickbacks from a foundation belonging to Napoles, who was dubbed the “pork barrel queen.” The division rejected Napoles’ request for the court to accept her belatedly filed memorandum that cited whistleblower Benhur Luy’s testimony in a different graft case, where he allegedly acknowledged that the funds in this case were not from PDAF. The 108-page Sandiganbayan decision was per curiam, meaning, not one justice from the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division penned the ruling. The per curiam decision was signed by Associate Justice and Division Chairperson Rafael Lagos, and Associate Justices Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac. Previous acquittals Napoles attended through videoconference, while Valdez was physically present in court on Monday morning. Napoles is currently serving prior convictions. Last May, the Sandiganbayan First Division acquitted Napoles of graft in 16 PDAF cases. Napoles and Revilla were charged with the crimes in 2014. In 2018, the court ruled in favor of Napoles and against Revilla in the plunder case. In 2021, after filing a demurrer to evidence in both graft instances, Revilla was exonerated. The court ruled that the liability of the accused could no longer be determined because they were included in the plunder case for which they were already prosecuted. The charges of plunder against Revilla, his former political officer Atty. Richard Cambe, and Napoles also constituted graft because they were based on “predicate acts,” the court said. The resolution was written by Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg and adopted by Division chairperson Efren dela Cruz and Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio. Same proof “This fact became even more apparent after the presentation of the same testimonial and documentary evidence in both cases,” the resolution read. Those acquitted in that case were Gondelina Amata, Ofelia Ordoez, Sofia Cruz, Evelyn Sucgang, Francisco Figura, Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana, Marivic Jover, Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Victor Roman Cacal and Maria Ninez Guanizo. Dennis Cunanan, Gregoria Buenaventura, Rhodora Mendoza, Evelyn de Leon, Laarni Uy and Jocelyn Piorato were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 to 8 years, and were permanently barred from holding public office. Cambe, Eulogio Rodriguez and Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal had their cases dropped after they passed away. Still another case Napoles was found guilty of two charges of graft and two counts of malversation in another batch of PDAF proceedings involving the late Davao del Sur representative Douglas Cagas. The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division observed in a ruling released on 19 May 2023, that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report corroborated the evidence of whistleblower Luy, who claimed that Napoles owned and controlled the NGOs implicated in the PDAF scam. The post Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bayani Fernando, true public servant (2)
In a country where corruption in the government has become endemic, where many elected and appointed officials use their offices, their power, and their connections to amass wealth illegally, only a rare breed of men and women come out unscathed and untainted with dishonesty and illegal conduct while in office. There is a long list of public officials who have been prosecuted, convicted, and jailed for siphoning government coffers for themselves. Of course, there are those who escape prosecution and others who manage to get acquitted, even if they are guilty as hell. They flaunt their wealth, which was never there before they entered government service. Since government prosecutors could not show the courts the quantum of proof beyond a reasonable doubt required by law, these scoundrels go scot-free. These charlatans become the role models of those who want to follow their route and seek to emulate them by seeking public office, either by election or by appointment. Tragically, for this country, it is corruption that hinders its development and progress. It is the poison that kills the body politic, the disease that is worse than the pandemic, which devours the poor of their health, that destroys the source that will provide them their education as a tool to uplift their lives. It is the scourge that hampers the delivery of basic services. Not all, though, who enter government work are corrupted or influenced by the evil and profitable ways of the corrupt. There are a few who remain insulated from corruption, who are dedicated and fealty to their oath of office, and who serve the public instead of themselves. Bayani Fernando was one of those handful who maintained his honesty during his tenure as Mayor, Congressman, Secretary of Public Works, and Chairman of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA. There was one political adversary of Bayani Fernando when he was Marikina Mayor, a former congressman of Marikina, long time deceased, who tried to tarnish his reputation by filing a graft complaint against him before the Office of the Ombudsman. This writer lawyered for him, and the Ombudsman dismissed the case as having no basis in fact and law. As Chairman of MMDA, he was also charged in 2016 with misuse of funds but was also exonerated. Apparently, the charges were politically motivated as he announced then that he was running for President. He eventually ran as Vice-President, but victory eluded him. The initiatives pursued by the late Bayani Fernando as a public servant produced results that benefited the people of Marikina and Metro Manila. His style of governance has been replicated by other mayors and succeeding chairmen of the MMDA. He was a role model in public service. His private life was exemplary, too. The only vice he indulged in, if it can be called one, was to spend his free time with his friends crooning every Tuesday night. He loved singing as his way of distressing himself and having clean fun with them. He and his wife Marides had only one daughter, Tala, who is married to Paul Ang, the son of business hotshot and mogul Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation. Bayani Fernando was a doting father to his unica hija Tala, but at the same time, he was a disciplinarian. Like all grandfathers, he was a spoiler. He loved his three grandchildren, all boys. They are his — and his wife Marides’ joy. When queried how Bayani Fernando was a husband, her wife blurted out: “Challenging!” accompanied by heart laughter. Certainly, all spouses who are married to public servants are confronted with the challenge of coping with their partners, seldom staying at home or coming home late. It’s good that former Marikina Mayor Marides Carlos-Fernando succeeded her husband for three terms as chief executive of Marikina, as she would understand the travails that every dedicated public servant goes through. His record as a public official speaks for itself. Bayani Fernando was a true public servant in the truest sense of the word. His legacy of public service lives on despite his departure from the physical plane. The post Bayani Fernando, true public servant (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former Iloilo solon hurdles graft charges
The Sandiganbayan announced on Friday that it has cleared former Iloilo lawmaker Niel Tupas Jr. of graft and malversation raps over the alleged anomalous utilization of his P4.8-million pork barrel funds to a non-government organization in 2008. In a 99-page ruling dated 13 September but was released only on Friday, the anti-graft court’s Special Fourth Division found Tupas not guilty of breaching Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and Malversation through Falsification of Public Documents. His co-accused, Rhodora Mendoza and Romulo Relevo, ex-administrative and finance head, and ex-general services unit head respectively, of the now-defunct National Agri-Business Corporation or NABCOR, were also acquitted of the same charges for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Filed by the Ombudsman in 2018, the case stemmed from the supposed misuse of Tupas’ Priority Development Assistance Fund worth P4,850,000 in 2008, supposedly intended to fund agricultural livelihood programs for Iloilo farmers. The funds were supposed to buy hand tractors, water pumps and grafted fruit seedlings, according to the Ombudsman. Tupas was accused of funneling his pork barrel to dubious NGO Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay Para sa Masa Foundation Inc. by utilizing the NABCOR as an intermediary. According to the Ombudsman, Tupas “unilaterally chose” and “indorsed” KKAMFI as a project partner to implement his livelihood projects for his district, notwithstanding that the foundation was “unaccredited” and “unqualified” to undertake such. Tupas and his co-respondents were accused of acting with manifest partially and evident bad faith by giving unwarranted benefits and advantages to the KKAMFI. The probe revealed that NABCOR and KKMFI entered into a memorandum of agreement on the purported implementation of Tupas’ PDAF-funded projects. NABCOR’s Mendoza and Relevo facilitated the disbursement of P4,850,000 to the foundation. The post Former Iloilo solon hurdles graft charges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rappler, Ressa acquitted of 5th tax evasion case
Rappler, Ressa acquitted of 5th tax evasion case.....»»
Sandiganbayan convicts late Teves’ co-accused
The Sandiganbayan convicted three ex-officials of the now defunct Technology and Livelihood Resource Center and two others over P9.6 million worth of ghost projects funneled through the pork barrel of the late Negros Oriental lawmaker Herminio Teves in 2007. The anti-graft court’s Third Division found ex-TLRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, ex-chief accountant Marivic Jover, ex-legislative liaison office officer-in-charge Belina Concepcion, Teves’s then chief-of-staff Hiram Pulido and Molugan Foundation Inc. president Samuel Bombeo guilty of one count each of graft and malversation. They were sentenced to up to 28 years in prison and perpetually disqualified from holding public office. They were also ordered to pay back the P9.6 million, with interest of 6 percent per annum. TLRC’s erstwhile department manager, Francisco Figura, meanwhile, was acquitted of the same charges. The Sandigabayan also dismissed the case against the principal accused, Teves, owing to his passing. Filed by the Ombudsman in 2017, the graft and malversation charge arose from the disbursement of Teves’s P9.6-million Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF to Molugan Foundation Inc., a non-governmental organization controlled by Bombeo. The Ombudsman said Teves “unilaterally chose” MFI as the implementor of his livelihood program drawn from his P10-million pork barrel that was originally intended for the depressed barangays and constituents in his district. State prosecutors proved that the PDAF was used for ghost or non-existent projects. Of the total, P9.6 million went to MFI, while P400,000 went to TLRC as a service fee. MFI did not have the capacity to implement the project as it was incorporated only in 2007, the year it was tasked to implement the PDAF project, the Ombudsman told the court. The respondents were accused of causing undue injury to the government by giving unwarranted benefits and advantages to MFI. “There is no doubt that the acts of Concepcion, Cunanan, Jover, Pulido and Bombeo caused undue injury to the government in the amount of P9,600,000 which to date remains unaccounted for,” the Sandiganbayan said in its 68-page ruling. The court also ruled that the respondents’ act of extending unwarranted benefits to a private party “without the proper accreditation” and the “lack of legal basis,” considering it was not one of the implementing agencies identified in the 2007 General Appropriations Act, were in violation of CoA Circular No. 96-003. “The totality of the facts and circumstances demonstrates that the accused, through manifest partiality, gross inexcusable negligence and/or evident bad faith, committed the offense of violation of Section 3(e) of RA No. 3019, causing undue injury to the government and giving unwarranted benefits to Bombeo and MFI,” the court said. The post Sandiganbayan convicts late Teves’ co-accused appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sandiganbayan convicts 3 TLRC ex-officials, 2 others over P9.6M PDAF scam
The Sandiganbayan convicted three ex-officials of the now-defunct Technology and Livelihood Resource Center and two others over their involvement in the P9.6 million worth of ghost projects funneled through the pork barrel fund of the late Negros Oriental lawmaker Herminio Teves in 2007. The anti-graft court’s Third Division handed down a 68-page decision, which found ex-TLRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, ex-TLRC chief accountant Marivic Jover, ex-TLRC legislative liaison office officer-in-charge Belina Concepcion, Teves’ then-chief-staff Hiram Pulido and Molugan Foundation Inc. president Samuel Bombeo, guilty of one count each of graft and malversation. They were sentenced to up to 28 years in prison and perpetually disqualified from holding public office. They were also ordered to pay the P9.6 million, or the amount malversated with a legal interest of 6 percent per annum. TLRC’s erstwhile department manager Francisco Figura, meanwhile, was acquitted of the same charges. The Sandigabayan also dismissed the case against the principal accused Teves owing to his passing. Filed by the Ombudsman in 2017, the graft and malversation charge arose from the disbursement of Teves’ P9.6 million Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF to Molugan Foundation Inc., a non-governmental organization controlled by Bombeo. The Ombudsman said Teves “unilaterally chose” MFI as an implementor of his livelihood program drawn from his P10-million pork barrel that was originally intended for the depressed barangays and constituents in his district. However, state prosecutors probe later revealed that the pork barrel funds were instead used to fund projects that turned out to be a ghost. Of the total, P9.6 million went to the MFI while P400,000 went to TLRC as a service fee. The Ombudsman also found that the MFI did not have the capacity to implement the project as it was incorporated only in 2007, the year it was tasked to implement the PDAF project. Thus, the respondents were accused of causing undue injury to the government by giving unwarranted benefits and advantages to the MFI. In convicting the accused, the Sandiganbayan said, “There is no doubt that the acts of Concepcion, Cunanan, Jover, Pulido, and Bombeo caused undue injury to the government in the amount of P9,600,000.00, which to date, remains unaccounted for.” The court also ruled that their acts of extending unwarranted benefits to a private party “without the proper accreditation” and the “lack of legal basis” considering it was not one of the implementing agencies identified in the 2007 General Appropriations Act were in violation of COA Circular No. 96-003. “The totality of the facts and circumstances demonstrates that the said accused, through manifest partiality, gross inexcusable negligence and/or evident bad faith, committed the offense of violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019, causing undue injury to the government and giving unwarranted benefits to Bombeo and MFI,” the court said. The post Sandiganbayan convicts 3 TLRC ex-officials, 2 others over P9.6M PDAF scam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rappler, Ressa acquitted of 5th tax evasion case
Rappler, Ressa acquitted of 5th tax evasion case.....»»
DFA: No appealing Ranara verdict
The 15-year prison term of the 17-year-old killer of rape-murder victim Jullebee Ranara has not resulted from an irregularity, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday amid bereaved kin’s outcry that the penalty was too lenient. While the DFA gave its support to Ranara’s family, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo de Vega told the Daily Tribune that “there was no whitewashing of the case.” “We told the family that this is the maximum allowed by Kuwaiti law. The accused was not acquitted. There was no whitewashing of the case. In the Philippines, minors are even exempt from criminal responsibility,” he said in a text message. “The prosecution cannot appeal a judgment of acquittal, or even in cases of a conviction, there can be no appeal by the prosecution to raise the penalty,” he said. The DFA, late Thursday, announced that Ranara’s killer was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by a Kuwaiti juvenile court. On top of the murder conviction, the court also meted another one-year jail term for driving without a license. Ranara was found lifeless in January. She was raped, impregnated, burned, run over, and left for dead in the desert by her employer’s son. The post DFA: No appealing Ranara verdict appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pasig court acquits Ressa, Rappler of final tax evasion case
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corporation (RHC) have been acquitted, Sept. 12, of the remaining tax evasion charges filed against them by the previous administration. The post Pasig court acquits Ressa, Rappler of final tax evasion case appeared first on Bulatlat......»»