By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki
Former Naga Mayor Gemma Florante Adana of Zamboanga Sibugay and four others have decided to elevate their graft case to the Supreme Court (SC) after they were convicted by the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division of graft in relation to the irregular procurement of heavy equipment worth P8.8 million in 2007.
Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
Adana, together with then bids and awards committee (BAC) chairman Felix Abelano Timsan and BAC members Emmanuel Fortuno Enteria and Jonathan Kee Cartagena, were found guilty of violating Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when they conspired with CVCK General Manager Jose Ely Solivar and purchased from his company five heavy equipment.
These were a road grader, a payloader, a road roller, and two dump trucks worth a total of P8.8 million. The purchase was made without complying with the provisions of R.A. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The accused were sentenced to imprisonment of six to eight years with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Adana filed a motion for reconsideration on August 14, followed by the rest of the co-accused on August 15. However, the anti-graft court denied their motions.
The accused then filed their respective Notices of Appeal before the Sandiganbayan and paid docket fees worth P3,000.
"The Division Clerk of Court is hereby directed to transmit the records of this case to the Supreme Court," the resolution stated.
It was signed by Associate Justices Sarah Jane Fernandez, Karl Miranda, and Kevin Narce Vivero.