MANILA, Philippines — For soliciting money from a mining firm in exchange for the issuance of ore transport and export permits, former Nueva Vizcaya provincial administrator Manuel Tabora may spend up to eight years in prison.
In a 31-page decision promulgated on May 17, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division said Tabora was found guilty of violating Section 3 (c) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Tabora was also ordered to pay P250,000 in civil damages to International Minerals Marketing and Advising Inc. (IMMAI).
Based on the charge sheet filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on June 7, 2017, Tabora received a check worth P250,000 from a certain Steven Shieldkret, president of IMMAI.
The ombudsman said Tabora demanded the money in exchange for securing permits from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board, wherein the provincial governor, represented by Tabora at the time, sat either as chairman or member.
“The fact that Tabora received pecuniary or material benefit for himself is crystal clear... Check No. 0005302 issued in the name of Tabora, received, accepted and deposited... to his Landbank accounts speaks volumes for itself,” the court ruling read.
The court gave no weight to Tabora’s claim that he accepted the money on behalf of a certain Filemon Villasan, a representative of businessman Krisjann Mapile from whom IMMAI supposedly intended to buy copper ore products for export.
“The crime charged against Tabora was consummated when he accepted the check and deposited the same to his account,” it said.