MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan sentenced a former Southern Leyte town mayor to 10 years in jail after she got a catering services deal to provide food during the visit of ex-President Fidel Ramos in 1995.
The anti-graft court also disqualified former Lilo-an Mayor Zenaida Maamo from holding any government office for life.
In the verdict promulgated on September 22, the court ruled that “it was highly irregular for a municipal mayor to approve a contracting service in favor of a business she owned and operated."
Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019 prohibits public officials from having a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in which he either intervenes or takes part in his or her official capacity.
State prosecutors established that Maamo was the owner of Niña’s Eatery and Lodging House that bagged the food catering contract amounting to P87,000.
Documents presented during the trial showed that the purchase request and purchase order for the food services contract were signed by Maamo.
Prosecutors said that Maamo’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for the years 1996 to 1999 served as proof of her ownership of Niña’s Eatery as listed in her business interest.