Sandiganbayan acquits former Bataan officials of falsification

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted four officials of the Provincial Government of Bataan for the charge of falsifying documents in connection with the procurement of a patrol boat in 2006.

In a 74-page decision, the Anti-Graft Court acquitted former provincial agriculturist Imelda Inieto, former supply officer Pedro Baluyot, and former treasury officer Francisco Caparas of charges of falsifying an acceptance and inspection report (AIR).

Meanwhile, the Court also cleared Inieto for charges of falsifying the memorandum receipt of equipment.

Due to this, the Sandiganbayan ordered the bail bonds that they posted to be canceled and released and the hold departure orders issued against them for the cases to be lifted and set aside.

The Court said no civil liability is imposed since there is no factual or legal basis.

The decision was promulgated on October 25.

In 2006, the former officials were accused to have falsely narrated that the patrol boat was delivered on January 18, 2006 as stated in the AIR and that the boat was acquired on January 24, 2006 as stated in the memorandum.

However, the Anti-Graft Court said that the prosecution failed to establish that the patrol boat was not delivered as indicated in the AIR.

“The prosecution did not present additional documentary evidence in the present cases to establish non-delivery of the subject patrol boat. That there was non-delivery of goods is a negative allegation,” it said.

According to the Court, the prosecution could have provided direct evidence of non-delivery through the inventory of properties of the LGU or the absence of necessary documents.

Further, it said that a witness testifying that he did not see the boat being built or see any boat on the shore did not indicate the non-delivery of the boat.

The Court previously acquitted Inieto, Baluyot, Caparas, and eight others of graft charges in connection to the procurement of the patrol boat. —LBG, GMA News