The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the graft charges against a former town mayor in Leyte Province but sentenced seven former officials after they were found guilty of refusing to recognize the appointment of Trinidad Cabardo as Sangguniang Bayan member 24 years ago.
In its 34-page decision dated 24 January 2023, the anti-graft found former Hilongos town mayor Altagracia Villaflor not guilty after it failed to prove her participation in the crime charged.
“Except for accused Villaflor, all of the accused’s acts show that they were unified in refusing to recognize Ms. Cabardo’s appointment and depriving her of the position and salaries due her.”
Former vice mayor Panfilo Go and municipal SB members Lamberto Rainier Flanco, Manuel Gabisan, Epifania Nerves, Lilia Sabando, Edwin Faller, and Rogelio Yan were found guilty of graft and perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
They were sentenced to imprisonment from six to 10 years.
“Accordingly, accused Go, Flanco, Gabisan, Nerves, Sabando, Faller, and Yan shall lose all retirement or gratuity benefits under any law as mentioned in Section 13 of Republic Act no. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act),” the decision read.
The charges stemmed from the accused’s refusal to recognize Cabardo’s appointment in 1999 and “unjustifiably prevented” her from performing the functions of a member of the SB.
“(Cabardo) was deprived of her chance to serve her constituents and advance her party’s platforms,” the decision read.
Then-provincial governor Remedios Petilla appointed Cabardo to replace resigned SB member Teogenes Caing.
The anti-graft court found that the seven former officials were “all unified in willfully refusing to recognize her (Cabardo) appointment despite submitting her appointment papers and other pertinent documents.”