Joey Marquez cleared of final graft case

Actor Joey Marquez has been cleared of the last of many graft cases filed against him as former mayor of Parañaque City.

In an 11-page decision dated May 12, the Office of the Ombudsman ruled to dismiss the remaining graft and malversation of public funds complaint filed against Marquez in 2008 for lack of evidence.

"Complainant failed to establish the participation of Marquez in the assailed transaction," the Ombudsman said in its decision, adding Marquez's "signature does not appear in any of the supporting documents."

The decision was signed by Ombudsman’s Preliminary Investigation Bureau director Nellie Boguen-Golez and was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Assistant Ombudsman Marilou Ancheta-Mejica.

The graft and malversation complaint against Marquez stemmed from the alleged anomalous purchase of P4.491 million worth of compost and garbage recycling equipment in 2000 and 2001 during his term as mayor of Parañaque.

Also cleared were former city administrator Antonio Abad III, former city treasurer Silvestre De Leon, former general services office chief Ofelia Cunan as well as Commission on Audit (COA) resident auditors Antonina Asahan and Leonarda Alibutud.

Likewise absolved of the charges were private respondents Ricardo Adriano and Ronnie Samala of Julia Enterprise Inc.

In September 2009, the Supreme Court junked with finality the graft cases filed against Marquez over the alleged anomalous purchase of overpriced “walis tingting” or broomsticks worth P1.4 million in 1996 and 1997, supposedly without public bidding.

The SC reversed the Sandiganbayan’s 2007 ruling finding Marquez guilty of the cases. It said the Sandiganbayan’s conclusion of overpricing was “erroneous since it was not adequately proven,” and that lack of public bidding is not tantamount to irregularity.

In May 2011, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the remaining nine counts of graft cases against Marquez also in connection with the broomsticks purchase deal.

In January 2015, the Sandiganbayan also acquitted Marquez of three counts of graft in connection with the purchase of rounds of ammunition in 1996 to 1998 which were allegedly overpriced by P1.219 million.

Marquez served as the mayor of Parañaque from 1995 to 2004. —KBK, GMA News