Oriental Mindoro Rep. Leachon cleared in dump truck case

The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday acquitted Oriental Mindoro Representative Paulino Salvador "Doy" Leachon in connection with the alleged anomalous use of city-owned dump trucks during his incumbency as Calapan City mayor.

According to the dispositive portion of the Fourth Division's decision, Leachon was cleared from his charge of one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act due to the "failure of the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt."

His co-accused, Benjamin Acedera and Juan Vinas, were also acquitted, while the case against Ernesto Vinas was dismissed due to his death.

The graft charge stemmed from the transactions involving Leachon and Juan in May 2009 when the latter allegedly used the city dump trucks for the delivery of sand to his own residence.

The prosecution said Juan utilized the dump trucks and its drivers without the corresponding rental payments.

But the 14-page decision said there was no partiality on the part of Leachon, saying the sand was delivered to Vinas after the city offered the sand as filling materials to anyone interested.

The Sandiganbayan said the sand from dredging projects in the city had to be disposed, with the local government tasked to deliver the sand.

"All these taken together establish that the use of government property was pursuant to the regular exercise of governmental functions in furtherance of a legitimate public purpose, rather than the dispensation of specific private benefit to accused Juan Vinas," the Sandiganbayan said.

Leachon welcomed the decision, saying he was only a victim of political harassment when the case was filed 10 years ago when he was still seeking his first term as congressman. 

The lawmaker said the decision also proves that he had no knowledge about Juan's personal use of the dump trucks.

"Simpleng case ng isang truck ng buhangin, na binigay sa isang pribadong mamamayan na wala naman akong kaalam-alam, and it was taken advantage of by my political opponents at that time," Leachon told reporters in an interview.

"I'm thankful that I've finally been vindicated. I've been suffering for the last ten years of my life, and I'm grateful to the court that it finds innocence in me. I had to undergo this process, [an] occupational hazard, shall we say," he added. —KBK, GMA News