Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao on Monday pled “not guilty” at the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division in connection with his graft case over the allegedly overpriced purchase of a second-hand vehicle in 2003.
Baguilat is facing one count each of alleged violation of Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Baguilat was arraigned as a requisite to the grant of his petition to travel to Germany and to The Netherlands from April 6 to 15.
Baguilat said he is scheduled to attend a Study Visit Program organized by the Friedrich Neumann Stiftung Foundation in Berlin.
“The program aims to provide solutions on poverty elimination and social justice,” he said.
Baguilat said that he intends to go to the Netherlands for three days to visit the Filipino community.
“The Program aims to provide platforms for knowledge-sharing for party-building and political branding between the Free Democratic Party of Germany and the Liberal Party of the Philippines and the visit to Filipino communities in The Netherlands aims to enhance relations with Filipinos overseas,” he said.
The Sandiganbayan required Baguilat to post a 120,000 travel bond.
Baguilat was also ordered to report to the Division Clerk of Court within five days upon his return to the Philippines.
The Ombudsman accused Baguilat, then as serving as Ifugao governor, and two provincial officials of conspiring to purchase a second-hand Isuzu Wagon Trooper for P900,000 from a certain Jose Man Singh of JMS General Merchandise.
The Ombudsman claimed that the purchase of the vehicle was illegal as it did not undergo a public bidding and was not covered by a budget appropriation from the Provincial Council.
He earlier filed a motion to dismiss the graft charge, invoking his right to a speedy disposition of cases. He said it took almost 15 years for the Ombudsman to file the case on Feb. 9, 2018 when the alleged offense took place in 2003.