Article by:
Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court sentenced five Caloocan City village officials to up to eight years imprisonment for falsification of public documents arising from bogus appointments.
The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division affirmed the 2018 decision of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 21, handing down penalties of six months to eight years on Barangay 48, Zone 4 Chair Wilfredo Camus, and councilors Benito Ching, Claro Ponce, Zacarias Ferrer, and Ramon Acuña.
The 10-page decision dated March 11 and recently published online also ordered the five to pay a fine of PHP2,000 each.
The Sandigan rejected the accused’s sole basis of appeal that they have been deprived of due process because of the lackluster performance of their lawyer.
“The bone of their contention goes into a perceived violation of their right to due process. According to accused-appellants, their former counsel lacked the zeal in representing them during the trial. They posit that the negligence of their former counsel was so inexcusable as to amount to a violation of their rights. The Court does not agree,” the anti-graft court said.
Two witnesses testified that the Sangguniang Barangay (village council) did not hold a session in December 2013, as stated in the resolutions that approved the appointment of a treasurer, 20 watchmen, clerk, health worker, street sweeper, caretaker, and members of a fire brigade. (PNA)
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