The Sandiganbayan on Thursday announced that it has junked Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estrañero’s bid to quash graft raps filed against him in connection with the alleged procurement of medical supplies at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic that were “grossly overpriced.”
In a 9-page resolution signed on 4 October, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division turned down the mayor’s appeal, owing to lack of merit.
To recall, Estrañero was charged with breaching the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or RA 3019 for entering into contracts with various suppliers in May 2020 for purchasing medical supplies that were 135 percent to 609 percent grossly overpriced.
Based on the charges, Estrañero allegedly entered into contracts notwithstanding an order from the executive on a price freeze on emergency supplies under Joint Memorandum Circular 2020-01.