Zamboanga Sibugay vice mayor gets 8 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — For giving a bigger calamity assistance to her husband and sister when she was mayor, Vice Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay has been sentenced to up to eight years in prison.

In a 32-page decision released recently, the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division said Adana was found guilty of violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

She was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The anti-graft court dismissed the case filed against Adana’s co-accused, former municipal social welfare and development officer Isabel Tabamo, after she died on July 13, 2015.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in April 2012, the case stemmed from the release of P45,000 and P40,000 in calamity assistance to Adana’s husband Edgar and her sister Emma Aranas, respectively.

Court records show that the Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution on Oct. 11, 2007 on the release of P240,000 for distribution to victims of Typhoon Bebeng.

While Adana’s husband and sister were on the list of beneficiaries prepared by the municipal social welfare and development office, the ombudsman said the maximum amount of cash assistance given to other typhoon victims was only P10,000.

“Adana’s... financial assistance... in amount evidently higher than those received by other calamity victims... was a clear proof of evident bad faith and manifest partiality,” the decision read.

“This resulted in unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to her husband and sister,” it added.

The court found no merit on Adana’s claim that she had no control over the beneficiaries and amount of cash assistance because Tabamo prepared the list.

“As the mayor, her (Adana’s) signature is needed before disbursement of public funds can be made,” the ruling stated.