Sandiganbayan acquits ex-PSC chair Angping of graft

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping of graft charges filed in connection with the alleged disadvantageous hiring of 80 janitorial personnel.

In a 46-page decision dated December 3, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division  ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against Angping and the release of his bail bond.

Then-Philcare Manpower Services general manager Edmundo Montanes was also acquitted.

The case stemmed from the alleged conspiracy between Angping and Montanes to hire 71 janitors and nine gardeners without securing the necessary requirements.

The prosecution had accused Angping of giving undue advantage to Philcare when he signed an addendum to the contract of service of the firm without the conduct of a public bidding.

The PSC paid the 80 personnel P15,324.42 per month from March 2009 to January 2011, but the prosecution said the government was deprived of the opportunity to have the most beneficial contract.

The Sandiganbayan confirmed the lack of a public bidding. It, however, said Angping had the authority of the PSC Board to sign an addendum with Philcare.

The government suffered no undue injury from the addendum, according to the Sandiganbayan, since Angping only adopted the original contract with Philcare on the janitorial services.

“The payment made by the PSC to Philcare for services actually rendered cannot be considered undue injury within the context of the law. The prosecution failed to specify, quantify and prove to the point of moral certainty the supposed undue injury,” it said.

The decision added the prosecution lacked proof Philcare was given unwarranted benefits for its services nor was there evident gross negligence from Angping, who is presumed to have acted in good faith.

“The totality of evidence presented failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that accused Angping acted with evident bad faith, manifest partiality or gross inexcusable negligence when he procured the additional janitorial personnel from Philcare through the addendum without a public bidding, the Sandiganbayan said.

Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero penned the decision, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Karl Miranda and Sarah Jane Fernandez. —KBK, GMA News