Abra mayor gets 10 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — A municipal mayor in Abra has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally hiring a private consultant for a government project in 2011.

The Sandiganbayan found Bucloc Mayor Gody Cardenas guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits public officials from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to a private party or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2020, the case stemmed from Cardenas’ appointment of Emma Leah Joy Andaya as consultant for the municipal government’s agricultural program in 2011.

The ombudsman said the hiring of a consultant did not undergo bidding and violated the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division  said the ombudsman was able to prove that the hiring of Andaya was anomalous.

It said Cardenas signed disbursement vouchers for the release of payments to Andaya despite the lack of supporting documents.

Abra vice mayor wounded in gun attack

Meanwhile, the vice mayor of Pidigan town was wounded in an attack by unidentified assailants yesterday morning.

Vice Mayor Noel Bisares was taken to a hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds in the arm and shoulders.

Bisares was in his hardware shop in Barangay Pamutic when he was shot by one of two motorcycle-riding men.

Investigation is ongoing.–  Artemio Dumlao, Emmanuel Tupas