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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Former mayor of Looc town beats graft rap

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The Sandiganbayan First Division has acquitted a former Romblon mayor of graft owing to his involvement in alleged irregularities in the procurement of P9-million irrigation project of Looc municipality in 2007.

In a 33-page decision dated Feb. 23, the anti-graft court said former mayor Juliet Ngo-Fiel of Looc Romblon acted in “good faith” when she decided to award the project to its lone bidder, R.G. Florentino Construction and Trading.

“Absent any damage nor injury, coupled with the fact that the accused were merely actuated by good faith in acting as they did in the implementation of the subject project, this court therefore is inclined to absolve them from the instant criminal charge,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“The quantum of evidence points to the fact that the acts of the accused relative to the SWIP [small water impounding project] were borne out of good faith spurred only by sheer desire to take advantage of the opportunity to avail of the intended project, and comply with what was expected from their end,” the decision stated.

Aside from Fiel, the court also acquitted Bids and Awards Committee members Solomon Gregorio, Renato Saludaga, Jessie Jomadiao, Wilma Pastor, and Rolando Gregorio.

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The Ombudsman earlier accused Fiel of committing an illegal act when she entered into a contract with RGFCT for “the small-scale irrigation/SWIP” of Looc even if it not had approval from the municipal council.

It also said the company was unqualified to participate in a public bidding that was marred by alleged fraud and irregularities.

But the Sandiganbayan ruled otherwise. It said the procurement for the project followed the provisions of the Government Procurement Act.

The anti-graft court also gave weight to the defense of Fiel that the Agriculture department chose his town as one of the beneficiaries of the government’s hunger mitigation program.

“It was a rare opportunity for a fourth class municipality, such as Looc, to be bestowed with an infrastructure project in support of its hunger mitigation program,” the court said.

The graft charge stemmed from the complaint filed by Fiel’s political rival, Manuel Arboleda, a former Looc mayor whom Fiel defeated in the 2007 elections. 

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