Recom, 2 others cleared of graft rap

MANILA, Philippines — Citing insufficient evidence, the Sandiganbayan has dismissed another graft and falsification of public documents case filed against former Caloocan City mayor Enrico Echiverri and two other former officials.

The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division, in a July 17 ruling penned by Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, said prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman failed to prove their allegations that Echiverri, former city accountant Edna Centeno and former budget officer Jesusa Garcia caused the implementation of a drainage improvement project for Hizon street in Barangay 64 in November 2012 without an appropriation ordinance from the city council.

The Sandiganbayan granted a demurrer to evidence filed by the former mayor and his fellow respondents.

Last month, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division also junked similar cases against Echiverri, Centeno and Garcia stemming from their alleged role in the disbursement of public funds in 2011 for a road and drainage system improvement project in Phase 10, Package 5 in Barangay Bagong Silang.