Dismissal of lawmaker’s graft raps affirmed

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the dismissal of the graft cases filed against Ifugao Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Baguilat Jr. in connection with the alleged purchase of an overpriced vehicle during his term as governor.

 In a resolution dated June 4, the Fifth Division said the Office of the Ombudsman failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the reversal of a ruling clearing Baguilat of two counts of graft.

The anti-graft court said the ombudsman violated Baguilat’s right to a speedy resolution of the cases.

It said it took the prosecution more than a decade to resolve the complaint, even as the issue involved only a single transaction.

Filed by the ombudsman on Feb. 9, the cases against Baguilat stemmed from the purchase by the provincial government of Ifugao of an alleged overpriced second-hand Isuzu Wagon Trooper amounting to P900,000 in March 2003.

The ombudsman said the vehicle was purchased without public bidding as required under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

It said the purchase was anomalous due to the absence of budget appropriation and execution of the deed of sale ahead of the preparation of the purchase request, canvass report and purchase order.

In a ruling dated April 19, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution’s arguments were baseless.

It also questioned why the resolution only came out eight years after the cases were filed.