Ex-Samal mayor fined P15k for receiving P400k from a cooperative

The former mayor of the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte will just have to pay P15,000 for receiving P400,000 from the Samal Island Multi-Purpose Cooperative in the years 2012 to 2014.

This developed after the Sandiganbayan granted the plea bargain agreement inked between former mayor Aniano Paraiso Antalan of Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte and the government prosecutors where Antalan pleaded guilty to lesser offense of three counts of prohibited transactions which is in violation of Sections 7a and 7d of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

Antalan was initially charged with graft for accepting P100,000 from Samal Island Multi-Purpose Cooperative which the Island Garden City of Samal had procurement contracts or transactions for the purchase of fuel, oil and lubricant in 2014.

Likewise, Antalan was charged with two counts of indirect bribery for accepting P200,000 and P100,000 from Samal Island Multi-Purpose Cooperative in 2012 and 2014—an amount he received in his capacity as mayor.

Antalan pleaded not guilty in these initial offenses before pleading guilty to lesser offenses.

“Appreciating the mitigating circumstance of the plea of guilty, the accused Antalan is imposed a fine of P50,000 each in SB-18-CRM-0544, SB-18-CRM-0545 and SB-18-CRM-0546,” the Sandiganbayan said in a nine-page decision.

“The cash bond posted by the accused will be released to him or his representative upon payment of the fine,” the Sandiganbayan added.

Antalan’s bail bond is at P54,000.

As a result of the plea bargain approval, the anti-graft court has also lifted the Hold Departure Order on Antalan. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News