Ex-Leyte mayor, 3 more convicted of graft

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has sentenced to a 10-year jail term a former town mayor in Leyte and three other local government executives for the irregular purchase of heavy equipment in 2005.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz, the anti-graft court also banned for life to serve in government office ex-Tunga town mayor Amando Aumento Sr., municipal accountant Lea Requiez, municipa treasurer Julita Falguera, and Alejo Costelo, chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

The Sandiganbayan, however, acquitted Aumento, Requiez and Falguera of malversation through falsification charges.

It also cleared their co-accused in the graft case, Joshua Rey Garrido, supplier of the heavy equipment, for lack of evidence.

Records showed that on Aug. 17, 2005, the municipal government of Tunga purchased a P1.1-million farm tractor through direct contracting.

The Commission on Audit (COA), however, discovered that there was no competitive bidding conducted by the local officials, with the direct contracting implemented without complying with its conditions.

The COA also found out that the BAC resorted to naming specific brands names, with the mayor acting as the requisitioning officer and canvasser at the same time.

"The Court is of the view right from the start, the accused did not contemplate public bidding as mode of acquisition...the accused decided to buy the (farm tractor) on the same day the BAC called and held a pre-bid conference," the decision read.