Ex-DOTC execs’ conviction over ghost purchase upheld

MANILA, Philippines —  The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of four former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in connection with a fictitious project of former Iloilo congressman Judy Syjuco.

In a 25-page decision promulgated on Sept. 5, the anti-graft court said Syjuco’s co-defendants failed to raise new arguments that could warrant the reversal of the ruling issued on June 7, which found them guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by former DOTC director and bids and awards committee vice chairman Elmer Soneja and BAC members Ildefonso Patdu Jr., Rebecca Cacatian and Geronimo Quintos as well as of private respondent Domingo Samuel Jonathan Ng.

The DOTC is now divided into two departments: Transportation, and Information and Communications Technology.

In the June 7 decision, the Sandiganbayan cleared the defendants of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, but sentenced them to six to 10 years for graft.

Syjuco, the primary accused in the case, was earlier allowed to enter into a plea bargain with the Office of the Ombudsman..

The charges stemmed from the payment of P5.96 million to Ng’s company for the supposed purchase of 1,582 units of phones using Syjuco’s pork barrel.