Ex-Gov. Ejercito faces 6-8 yrs jail term over illegal insurance plans

The Sandiganbayan on Friday sentenced former Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon "ER" Ejercito to six to eight years imprisonment after he was found guilty for the alleged illegal insurance deal he approved as mayor of Pagsanjan in 2008.

Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division convicted Ejercito for one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Then-Councilors Arlyn Lazaro-Torres, Terryl Gamit-Talabong, Kalahi Rabago, Erwin Sacluti and Gener Dimaranan, and private respondent Marilyn Bruel also face the same sentence.

On the other hand, the decision penned by Associate Justice Bayani Jacinto cleared former Vice Mayor Crisostomo Villar from the charge due to the failure of the prosecution in proving his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The Sandiganbayan allowed all convicted accused to post an additional bail bond of P30,000 to enjoy provisional liberty as they avail legal remedies.

Ejercito, who goes by the screen name George Estregan, and the former councilors have five days to pay the cash bond.

The prosecution had charged Ejercito and his co-accused of graft over an insurance deal that the Pagsanjan municipal government entered into with a private company, First Rapids Care Ventures (FRCV).

The deal was for the supposed “accident protection and financial assistance” coverage of tourists and qualified boatmen plying the route to and from the Pagsanjan Gorge Tourist Zone.

Investigations, however, showed that no public bidding was held for the deal, and the contract was awarded to FRCV despite the fact that it has no license or certificate of authority from the Insurance Commission to engage in the insurance business. —LBG, GMA News