Ex-Nueva Ecija mayor gets 10 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines - A former municipal mayor of Nueva Ecija who entered into a questionable contract with a private firm in 2002 was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday.

Former Pantabangan mayor Lucio Uera was also meted with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The Sandiganbayan found Uera guilty of graft for approving a contract with a maintenance firm, where his wife is an incorporator.

Investigation showed Uera entered into a service contract with Priva Power and Allied Services for the management of the Pantabangan municipal electric system. 

Priva received a total of P1.11 million as maintenance and operation expense payments in a clear case of conflict of interest, graft probers said.

“This court lends more weight to the certification of the SEC that Mrs. Ruby Uera is an incorporator, director and subscriber of P10,000 worth of capital stock of Priva Power... Her husband, accused Uera, has a direct interest in Priva Power,” the Sandiganbayan Third Division, in a ruling penned by Associate Justice Samuel Martires, said.

“Without being the mayor and acting in such capacity, the accused could not have facilitated the contract with Priva Power…It is very evident that he had intervened in the act or agreement in an official capacity,” the anti-graft court added.