Sandiganbayan sentences ex-DOF exec to 32 years for graft

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced former Finance deputy executive director Uldarico Andutan Jr. to 32 years of imprisonment over a tax credit scam.

In a 55-page decision promulgated on February 10, the Sandiganbayan Second Division found Andutan guilty of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as amended, and sentenced him to six years and one month to eight years in prison for each of the four counts.

Andutan was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office, and was ordered to pay P4.6 million to the government, with legal interest.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Andutan and other respondents of charges of estafa through falsification and other charges of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act on the basis of reasonable doubt.

The court has also dismissed the case against former Finance undersecretary Antonio Belicena and former evaluator Emelita Tizon by reason of death.

The Sandiganbayan, meanwhile, ordered arrest warrants to be issued against Eulogio Reyes, Albert Ling, Vinalyn Ling, Eduardo Samonte, and Myrna Jose of Devmark Textile Industries.

The court said their cases will be archived to be revived upon their arrest or surrender.

The case stemmed from the complaint accusing Andutan and the others of conspiring with one another to approve the issuance of tax credit certificates amounting to a total of P4.6 million from Devmark to Proton Pilipinas Corp. without legal basis or supporting documents.

“Suffice it to say that evidence demonstrably establishes the irreverent disregard by accused Andutan of OSS’s duty as gatekeeper of tax credits, in manifest partiality toward the parties to the transfer,” the court said.

“Not being lawfully entitled to the assignment of rights, it is without cavil that unwarranted benefit was bestowed upon Proton Pilipinas Corporation in the amount of the four Tax Credit Certificate subject of the instant cases,” it added.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News