Sandigan metes 10-yr jail term for San Manuel ex-mayor

The Second Division of the Sandiganbayan sentenced last Tuesday a former mayor of San Manuel town in Isabela to 10 years in prison for graft.

Former San Manuel Mayor Jaime Domingo was found guilty of having pocketed P50,000 from an infrastructure project awarded to a private contractor in 1993.

The court also ordered Domingo’s disqualification from public office and the reimbursement of the P50,000 to the government.

According to case records, the town of San Manuel started a pavement project worth P520,000 in 1993 but a sub-contract worth P50,000 was awarded to Mari Construction and Supply for hauling and delivery of 56 truckloads of gravel and sand.

A check of by the Commission on Audit later discovered that a check issued in payment for the supplier was made payable to the mayor.

The Sandiganbayan said an officer of the Philippine National Bank — Mallig Plains branch in Isabela later confirmed that PNB check no. 903178 was ‘drawn in favor of Domingo’.

Domingo in his defense, claimed that his name was erroneously placed on the check by the municipal treasurer.