The Sandiganbayan has imposed a P30,000 fine against the former executive director of the National Parks and Development Committee in Manila after the court approved his plea bargaining deal owing to his P49-million alleged anomalous security contract case.
In a decision dated May 10, the court’s Seventh Division found Carlito San Antonio Fajardo guilty of six counts of “prohibited transactions.”
The court said the guilty verdict imposed on Fajardo as provided under Section 7(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials came with a fine of P5,000 “for each count,” or a total fine amounting to P30,000.
This developed as the anti-graft court ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against Fajardo and the release of his bond upon payment of the fine.
The Ombudsman filed graft charges against Fajardo following his approval of the security contract and the release of payment to Variance Protective and Security Agency for its security services without public bidding.
The contract, valued at P49 million, was supposedly valid for at six years—from.2004 to 2010. The prosecution said, however, the contract was extended on a monthly basis despite the absence of a public bidding.
The Sandiganbayan downgraded Fajardo’s guilty plea to a lesser offense, saying: “The prosecution manifested to the court that they are not opposing the accused’s change of plea. The court deems the prosecution’s manifestation as sufficient to allow the withdrawal of accused’s former plea and to permit him to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser offense.”