SC upholds conviction of ex-Tangub City mayor, councilor

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court has upheld the 56-year jail term slapped on two former local government officials in Misamis Occidental for falsifying resolutions and making them appear approved by city council in 1988. In a 23-page decision, the SC’s Third Division denied for lack of merit the petition filed by ex-Tangub City Mayor Eleno Regidor Jr. and ex-councilor Camilo Zapatos that sought a reversal of their conviction by the Sandiganbayan in 2004. The decision, penned by Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura, gave weight to the evidence presented against the two accused. “Based on the foregoing disquisitions, the Sandiganbayan’s conviction of petitioners had ample factual mooring, after the prosecution presented both documentary and testimonial pieces of evidence. Thus, we accord respect and weight to the Sandiganbayan’s findings," the high court ruled. Aside from the prison term, Regidor and Zapatos were also ordered to each pay a fine of P35,000 for seven counts of falsification. Another accused, Marlene L. Mangao, who was designated as acting secretary of the city council and who had also been charged with falsification, remained at large, while the charges against former vice mayor Aniceto Siete had been dissolved because of his death. Case records showed that in 1988, Regidor, Siete, Zapatos and Mangao falsified seven resolutions and made it appear that the enactments were passed upon by the city council. The fraudulent resolutions involved the granting of salary increases, supplemental budgets for general fund and infrastructures, and request for funding of sports centers. The anomaly could have passed off as legitimate legislation had it not been for the objection of some councilors who questioned the resolution, and the procedure adopted by the council in passing the ordinance. When the Sandiganbayan convicted them, Regidor and Zapatos elevated the case to the SC. - GMANews.TV