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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Ex-mayor, treasurer plead guilty to fraud, evade prison sentence

Ex-mayor, treasurer plead guilty to fraud, evade prison sentence

Published Nov 28, 2019 12:00 am
By Czarina Nicole Ong-Ki Former Gutalac Mayor Mariano Candelaria Jr. of Zamboanga del Norte and Municipal Treasurer Jose Samorin pleaded guilty to the charge of Frauds Against Public Treasury before the Sandiganbayan First Division, which is a lesser offense than graft. Because of their plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution, they escaped a possible prison sentence and were instead ordered to pay a fine of P1,000 each. Candelaria Jr. and Samorin are two of the co-accused in the graft charge slapped against Mariano Candelaria Sr., who was also a former mayor of Gutalac. Candelaria Sr. was accused of violating Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for reportedly giving undue advantage to Candelaria Jr., who was a private individual back then, and Yao Ka Chiong, manager and owner of Benison Auto Supply, Dipolog City, when he purchased a crew cab ranchero type vehicle with license plates UV-TFV-475 for P280,000 without any deed of absolute sale back in March 18, 1993. He also paid P331,168.60 for the vehicle's repair, even though it was supposed to be shouldered by the owner of Benison Auto Supply. Because of his actions, undue injury was caused to the government in the amount of P611,168.60. Candelaria Jr. and Salmorin initially entered into a "Not Guilty" plea when they were arraigned this year. Atty. Kris Francisco Rimban, counsel for both accused, orally moved that his clients be allowed to withdraw their earlier plea so they can plead guilty to the lesser offense of Frauds Against Public Treasury, as defined by Paragraph 1 of Article 213 of the Revised Penal Code. On October 22, the prosecution filed a comment and told the court that the complainant, the Commission on Audit (COA), agreed to the accused's proposal. "In view of the said plea of guilty, accused Candelaria Jr. and Salmorin are hereby found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Frauds Against Public Treasury," the court ruled. The two-page resolution was written by Chairperson Efren De La Cruz with the concurrence of Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Kevin Narce Vivero.
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