Sandiganbayan suspends Zambales official pending graft trial

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the suspension of a Zambales official for 90 days pending trial of his graft case.

The anti-graft court ordered Roberto Corpus, former officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Zambales Provincial Assessor's Office and now administrative officer, to "cease and desist" from performing and exercising functions, duties and privileges until his trial for violating Section 3(e) of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, commences.

Results of the Ombudsman investigation found that in September 2007, Corpus, while he was OIC of the Provincial Assessor's Office, illegally issued a tax declaration to a certain Victor Balicas Jr.

This, despite due notice that another tax declaration and certificate of title covered the said property under the name of Rolando Young.

With Corpus' act, "possible conflicting legal interests of the said parcel of lot" may have been created, the case information stated.

Section 13 of RA 3019 states that "an incumbent public officer against whom any criminal prosecution under a valid information... is pending in court, shall be suspended from office."

The anti-graft court said that with the validity of information and charges against Corpus, "it is mandatory for the Court, and there are no 'ifs' and 'buts' about it, to issue the corresponding preventive suspension."

The Sandiganbayan has already directed Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane to carry out the suspension order. — MDM, GMA News