ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Former Antique representative Exequiel Javier has been acquitted of graft charges over the alleged anomalous awarding of a rice mill equipment worth P9.9 million to a cooperative.
In a 74-page decision promulgated by the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division, Javier and councilor Gemma Cepeda were found not guilty of violating Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
With the decision of Associate Justice Bernelito Fernandez, the hold departure orders that were issued against Javier and Cepeda have been recalled and their respective cash bonds released.
According to the anti-graft court division, even if the rice mill was funded by Javier’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the prosecution failed to establish that he had any participation in the approval of the transfer of ownership of the property.
Cepeda, on the other hand, was able to prove that she did not sign a resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan approving the controversial deal with Greater Antique Development Cooperative or GRAND Coop.
Meanwhile, Patnongon’s Vice Mayor Thomas Bacaoco, former town Mayor Johnny Bacongallo, six other former and incumbent town officials, and the cooperative chair were found guilty of violating RA 3019 and sentenced to eight years in prison.
The other respondents were former town mayor Henry Mondejar, incumbent councilors Al Brian Crespo and Felix Gregorio Barrientos; former councilors Rene Philip Cayetano, Teopisto Estaris Jr. and Erika Orcasitas; and GRAND Coop. chair Efren Esclavilla. They were all cleared by the Sandiganbayan.
For the elected officials who were convicted of graft case, the anti-graft court disqualified them from holding public office on top of their prison terms.
The graft case, which was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2017, stemmed from the transfer of ownership of a 40-ton equipment to the GRAND Coop between 2007 and 2008.
According to the Ombudsman, the equipment, which was funded by Javier’s PDAF, was originally intended for the use of the local government of Patnongon.
Ombudsman said the transfer of the ownership of the equipment was “without any financial consideration and justification in the selection of the grantee.”
The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division said the Ombudsman was able to prove that the municipal government suffered undue injury from the transfer of the ownership of the rice mill to the cooperative, which was found to be incapable of operating the mill, to the detriment of the farmers of Patnongon./PN