Barangay execs acquitted

The Sandiganbayan acquitted a barangay chairman and a kagawad of Manila on charges of estafa due to lack of evidence.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Nicodemo Ferrer, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division acquitted Manuel Dellona and Lolito Saladino, barangay chairman and kagawad of Barangay 399, Zone 41, District IV, Manila, of the crime of estafa through falsification of public documents. "The evidence presented by the prosecution is grossly inadequate to overcome the constitutional presumption of innocence in favor of the two accused," Ferrer said.

The case against Dellona and Saladino stemmed from their alleged falsification of the signature of Ernesto Begino, in the payroll warrant register covering the period of October, November and December 1991. – Jose Rodel Clapano