Sandiganbayan acquits ex-Bataan officials of graft charges

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Bataan provincial government officials and a private individual of graft charges in connection with the purchase of a patrol boat amounting to P142,500 in February 2006.

In a 77-page decision, the anti-graft court acquitted Imelda Inieto, Alicia Magpantay, Emerlinda Talento, Ludivina Banzon, Enrico Yuzon, Evangeline Diaz, Godofredo De Guzman, Pedro Baluyot, Angelina Villanueva, Francisco Caparas, and Ernesto Asistin after the prosecution failed to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the court, though the prosecution established that the accused violated provisions of Republic Act 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the accused acted in good faith to comply with the provisions.

“The evidence failed to establish evident bad faith, manifest partiality and/ or gross inexcusable negligence on their part, nor that accused Asistin was given unwarranted benefit, advantage, or preference or that the LGU of Bataan sustained undue injury,” it said.

It ordered the bail bonds posted for the case released subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures. It also ordered that the hold departure orders issued against the accused are lifted and set aside.

In 2012, the officials were accused of "conspiring and confederating with one another and Inting, a private individual, and acting with evident bad faith, manifest partiality and/ or gross inexcusable negligence, and caused undue injury to the Provincial Government of Bataan."

The officials were also accused of giving unwarranted benefit, advantage, or preference to Inting by awarding him the contract for the purchase of the boat without public bidding, paying Inting despite the non-delivery of the boat, and making it appear that the boat was delivered.—AOL, GMA News