Batangas judge gets 3-year jail term for bribery

The Sandiganbayan meted a three-year jail term on a Municipal Circuit Trial Court judge in Mabini-Tingloy, Batangas yesterday after finding him guilty of indirect bribery for extorting money.

In an entrapment operation in December 1996, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found Judge Ramon Reyes to have demanded P15,000 to P240,000 from the mothers of three boys who were arrested for possession of illegal drugs.

"The prosecution has discharged its burden of proving the guilt of Reyes beyond reasonable doubt. It has been shown that there was an agreement between Reyes and the three complaining witnesses about money to be given," the decision of the anti-graft court’s first division stated.

Although Reyes tested "negative" for fluorescent powder, NBI agents found the envelope containing P3,000 — 20 "old" P100 bills and two P500 bills — inside his drawer.

"It is at once evident that Reyes could not satisfactorily explain why he required the complainants to put up the P15,000 although they were only able to put up P3,000," the Sandiganbayan said in its 23-page decision.

The anti-graft court said the amount, which Reyes had "demanded and received," could not have been for bail purposes because he was not in a position to fix bail for the cases of Primo Evangelista, Rex Cordero and Melvin Dalangin, who were arrested in November 1996.

"In fact, there was no reason for him to even suggest that the complainants put up a bond because there was no preliminary investigation conducted, and most of all, Reyes filed no information against the sons (of the complainants)," the Sandiganbayan said.