Sandiganbayan throws graft case vs. Mayor Loot

The Sandiganbayan third division in Quezon City had recently issued a resolution dismissing the graft case against Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot, a copy of which was sent to The Freeman only lately.

Associate justice Norberto Geraldez signed the the resolution, dated last October 12, with the concurrence of division chairman Godofredo Legaspi and associate justice Efren dela Cruz.

For over a year since an arrest warrant was issued against Mayor Loot and she posted P30,000 bail, the Sandiganbayan finally granted her omnibus motion and ordered the dismissal of the case against her.

The case against the mayor was filed by Jeronimo "Jerome" Cosido, a permanent employee of the municipal government, who accused her of refusing without justification to sign his daily time record from July 16, 2003 to the present, resulting in the withholding of his salaries.

According to the facts of the case, the mayor had, three years ago, directed the municipal treasurer and payroll officer not to process the salaries of employees whose DTRs were not signed by a department head.

Cosido alleged that Loot refused to sign his DTRs, making him unable to claim his salaries and benefits through those years until Loot dropped him from the roster of municipal employees.

Cosido was relieved as the municipal social welfare and development officer and given the task of community affairs officer, answering directly to the Office of the Mayor.

On October 13 last year, or after Cosido filed the charges, Loot moved to remand the case to the Office of the Ombudsman for reinvestigation. Last January 24, however, the Sandiganbayan denied this because the filing of her motion was already out of time.

On February 22, Loot moved to quash the case but, last March 28, the Sandiganbayan denied this saying that, prior to the issuance of the order for the arrest warrant against her, it had assessed the records of the case and found out that there was probable cause. - Gregg M. Rubio