Ex-Bulacan mayor gets 12 years over illegal ‘toll’ collection

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former municipal mayor of San Miguel, Bulacan to 12 years in prison for collecting P1,000 “pass way” fees to delivery trucks that passed through the town in 2004.

The Sandiganbayan Special Fifth Division found Edmundo Jose Buencamino guilty of two counts of violating Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019.

“The accused imposed and collected payment for pass way fee knowing fully well that he is without authority of law, decree, ordinance or resolution to do so,” a 26-page decision penned by Associate Justice Napoleon Inoturan said.

Buencamino is perpetually disqualified from holding public office, the anti-graft court added.

Another graft case was filed against Buencamino when he seized two trucks of Rosemoor Mining and Development Corp. (RMDC) for failing to pay the P1,000 pass way fee.

The ombudsman said RMDC was granted a permit by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Buencamino collected the fee “upon his whims and caprices,” the anti-graft court said.

The anti-graft court also noted that Buencamino started collecting the pass way fee shortly after he was proclaimed mayor through Robert Tabarne, a former barangay captain, without issuing any official receipt.

“Tabarne’s designation to collect the pass way fees, made without the knowledge of the Sangguniang Bayan and the municipal treasurer, is highly irregular,” the Sandiganbayan said.