FORMER Bacolod City congressman Monico Puentevella has lost his bid to merely deny the charges against him without submitting counter evidence.
Thus, the graft case filed against him will be subjected to a full-blown trial by the Sandiganbayan.
Puentevella is facing charges for alleged violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act owing to the alleged anomalous information technology project he implemented for three years.
The anti-graft court's Second Division denied Puentevella's motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence in its Aug. 22 resolution.
The case stemmed from the allegedly anomalous purchase of P26 million worth of computers and peripherals from 2001 to 2006 using his Priority Development Assistance Fund when he was the congressman representing Bacolod.
Ombudsman investigators said the purchased items were overpriced and the supply contract was awarded to Maryland Publishing Corp. without public bidding.
In defending himself from the allegation, Puentevella claimed the evidence against him was weak and not enough to prove his guilt.
But the Sandiganbayan said otherwise.
“The Court finds that the testimonies of the various witnesses presented by the prosecution, as well as the admissions made and stipulations entered into by the parties, and the numerous documents submitted as evidence are prima facie sufficient for conviction, unless successfully rebutted by defense evidence,” the anti-graft court said.