Sandigan acquits Capitol official from graft

CEBU, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has acquitted Cebu Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil of the graft case filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the P5 million financial assistance released by the Capitol to a bogus foundation in 2002.

The anti-graft court granted Ypil’s motion for reinvestigation and found no sufficient evidence to prove that the accused was guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“...the court finds that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused,” the decision reads.

In 2002, the Cebu Provincial Government released P5 million in public funds to Perdido Lex Foundation as subsidy for its computerization program. The program was supposed to benefit the marginalized youth in the province.

It was later discovered that the foundation failed to meet the criteria for accreditation of non-governmental organizations as mandated in Article 64 (b) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code of 1991.

But Ypil said the foundation was able to submit accomplishment reports on the computerization project.

The court also acquitted former Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong, then chairman of the Committee on Accreditation. The other former officials involved in the controversy but were already cleared include former Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia and former vice governor John Gregory “John-John” Osmeña.

It was Osmeña who signed the disbursement vouchers for the staggered release of the amount to Perdido Lex, whose incorporators were found to be working under him. Garcia signed the memorandum of agreement with the foundation but investigators said he was merely doing a ministerial job.

Osmeña got exonerated from the charge after the court granted his motion to quash the information. However, Osmeña’s chief of staff, Willie Mulla, was found guilty by the anti-graft office of the administrative aspect and was dismissed from the government service.

The other incorporators--Terodora Limcangco, Milagros Herrera, Fe Tan and Nancy Sia—remained at large. — FPL (FREEMAN)