The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the graft case filed against Guiuan, Eastern Samar Municipal Engineer Arsenio V. Salamida due to his death.
"Accordingly, SB-17-CRM-2082 is hereby dismissed as to accused Salamida by reason of his death,” the court said in a resolution signed by Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, Karl B. Miranda and Kevin Narce B. Vivero.
The court also ordered the release of Salamida’s cash bond to his estate.
Salamida was one of the co-accused in the graft case filed against Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of a firetruck for P2.1 million in 2007.
The other accused are bids and awards committee (BAC) members Esperanza Cotin, Ma. Nenita Ecleo, Felipe Padual, Danilo Colandog, and Gilberto Labicane.
The prosecution alleged that those accused in the case resorted to negotiated procurement instead of going through the process of public bidding in violation of Republic Act No. 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act.