Ex-Davao Oriental mayor, 3 others get 10 years over P101,086

MANILA, Philippines - Another former town mayor of Davao Oriental and three other municipal officials have been found guilty of graft and sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison.

The Office of the Ombudsman announced yesterday the conviction of former Baganga mayor Gerry Morales, municipal engineer Roseller Macayra, accountant Emeritos Jovilla and treasurer Francisco Jimenez Jr. for their involvement in the ghost delivery of auto spare parts 12 years ago. 

The Sandiganbayan ruled that the officials violated procurement regulations in the purchase of 10 tires from Donald Villademosa, owner of Villtrade Marketing, in October 2002. 

“Allowing the disbursement of public funds in the amount of P101,086.37 and paying the same to Villtrade Marketing despite the fact that no tires were delivered, the accused caused actual damage to the municipality of Baganga and conferred unwarranted benefit to Villtrade Marketing, ” the Sandiganbayan ruling, penned by Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo, stated.

The ruling also permanently disqualified the four from holding public office and ordered them to indemnify the government of the amount disbursed for the ghost project.