Ex-Albay mayor, 3 others convicted over graft

MANILA, Philippines — The anti-graft court on Wednesday convicted former Camalig, Albay mayor and three other town officials of graft over anomalous maintenance contracts for the municipality’s service vehicles in 2003.

Aside from former Mayor Paz Muñoz, former officer-in-charge municipal accountant Rem Ortonio, municipal treasurer Armando Quintano, and municipal engineer Rogelio Naz Jr. were convicted by the Sandiganbayan’s Special Second Division.

In a 23-page ruling promulgated last September 22, Sandiganbayan found the defendants guilty of causing undue injury to the municipality of Camalig for awarding the repair to Legazpi Tireworld Corp. after a rigged public bidding. 

The decision penned by Sandiganbayan Second Division Associate Justice Napoleon Inoturan was released to the media on Wednesday.

Associate Justices Teresita  Diaz-Baldos and Oscar Herrera Jr. were among those who concurred in the case.

The associate justices convicted the officials citing “badges of irregularity” in the canvass of contracts procedures, including similar dates in the award of contract and purchase order.

Muñoz and three other officials now face jail terms of six years and one month with an additional penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office in the future.

The convicts’ case stemmed from the Commission on Audit’s 2003 report findings that there were irregularities in a number of transactions entered into by the Camalig, Albay municipal government, including repair and maintenance contracts for service vehicles, a dump truck, and an ambulance owned by the local government.

Based on the reports, the fees charged by the local government were exorbitant, amounting to P447,027.53 in just one year even if there were only five vehicles involved.

The Sangguniang Bayan, initiated by then councilor and current Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr., filed the complaint before Office of the Ombudsman after the respondents failed to appear before the council to explain the audit findings.MANILA, Philippines — The anti-graft court on Wednesday convicted former Camalig, Albay mayor and three other town officials of graft over anomalous maintenance contracts for the municipality’s service vehicles in 2003.

Aside from former Mayor Paz Muñoz, former officer-in-charge municipal accountant Rem Ortonio, municipal treasurer Armando Quintano, and municipal engineer Rogelio Naz Jr. were convicted by the Sandiganbayan’s Special Second Division.

In a 23-page ruling promulgated last September 22, Sandiganbayan found the defendants guilty of causing undue injury to the municipality of Camalig for awarding the repair to Legazpi Tireworld Corp. after a rigged public bidding. 

The decision penned by Sandiganbayan Second Division Associate Justice Napoleon Inoturan was released to the media on Wednesday.

Associate Justices Teresita  Diaz-Baldos and Oscar Herrera Jr. were among those who concurred in the case.

The associate justices convicted the officials citing “badges of irregularity” in the canvass of contracts procedures, including similar dates in the award of contract and purchase order.

Muñoz and three other officials now face jail terms of six years and one month with an additional penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office in the future.

The convicts’ case stemmed from the Commission on Audit’s 2003 report findings that there were irregularities in a number of transactions entered into by the Camalig, Albay municipal government, including repair and maintenance contracts for service vehicles, a dump truck, and an ambulance owned by the local government.

Based on the reports, the fees charged by the local government were exorbitant, amounting to P447,027.53 in just one year even if there were only five vehicles involved.

The Sangguniang Bayan, initiated by then councilor and current Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr., filed the complaint before Office of the Ombudsman after the respondents failed to appear before the council to explain the audit findings.