Ex-DILG chief cleared of graft raps

Former interior secretary Ronaldo Puno was acquitted yesterday by the Sandiganbayan of charges of having a stake in a P148-million contract to supply two-way radios to the Philippine National Police during the Estrada administration.

In a 77-page decision, the anti-graft court’s fourth division ruled that the government "failed to substantiate" allegations that Puno withdrew his signature from the alleged contract so he could "acquire a controlling interest" in Wattmaster Inc., dealer of Motorola equipment in the Philippines.

Justices Gregory Ong, Jose Hernandez and Rodolfo Ponferrada agreed that the supposed contract between the government and Wattmaster in September 1998 for phases four and five of the Multi-Trunked Radio System had not taken place.

"The MTRS phases four and five contracts that Puno agreed (to) were, for all intents and purposes, only proposed or proposed agreements, not duly perfected contacts as erroneously alleged in the information," read the decision.

The justices said they granted Puno’s demurrer to evidence because the government failed to prove that the MTRs phases were duly perfected contracts.

"The prosecution has clearly failed to prove the concurrence of all the requisite elements of the offense charged, the dismissal of the case is in order," read the decision.

"The prosecution failed to adduce the quantum of evidence required to sustain the indictment to support a verdict of guilt."

The Sandiganbayan canceled the cash bond for Puno’s provisional liberty and the amount was returned to him, and the hold departure order against him was lifted.

The government accused Puno — now a representative of Antipolo City — of signing the contract with Wattmaster in September 1998 after it was delegated to him by then President Joseph Estrada, who was acting interior and local government secretary.

Puno was said to have later withdrawn his signature from the contract.