Sandigan affirms graft conviction of ex-Makati execs

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the graft conviction of two former officials of the Makati government in connection with the allegedly anomalous purchase of P45.26 million worth of hospital beds and sterilizers for the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak).

In a resolution promulgated on Oct. 27, the anti-graft court’s Third Division denied the motion for reconsideration of former Makati supply officer Conrado Pamintuan and former administrative officer Jaime delos Reyes, seeking the reversal of the June 10 decision finding them guilty of two counts of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Pamintuan and Delos Reyes were earlier sentenced to up to eight years in prison for each count of the offense and ordered disqualified from holding public office.

The court said the issue raised by Pamintuan and Delos Reyes in their appeal had been “thoroughly discussed and adequately considered” in the assailed decision.

“There is no convincing reason to amend, alter, revise or even reverse, wholly or partially, the assailed decision,” the Third Division said.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2011, the cases stemmed from the allegedly anomalous purchase of hospital beds and cabinets worth P36.43 million in 2001 and autoclave sterilizers amounting to P8.83 million in 2000 for the OsMak.

Ombudsman prosecutors said the items were purchased from Apollo Medical Equipment and Supplies without public bidding.

The ombudsman said the contracts were awarded to Apollo through negotiated procurement despite “spurious” documents. The company claimed that it was the exclusive distributor of the hospital equipment.

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Makati mayor Elenita Binay of the charges along with former city councilor and general services department head Ernesto Aspillaga, former accountant Dulce Cruz and former treasurer Luz Yamane-Garcia.