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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Former Bulan, Sorsogon mayor acquitted of graft charge

Former Bulan, Sorsogon mayor acquitted of graft charge

Published Sep 28, 2021 10:45 am

Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Mayor Marnellie B. Robles of Bulan, Sorsogon of graft charge for her failure to act swiftly on the application for P846,043.85 terminal leave benefits of a town employee.

The graft case against Robles was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2018 based on a complaint lodged by employee Helen C. De Castro.

The former mayor was accused of “evident bad faith, manifest partiality or gross inexcusable negligence” for not acting on De Castro’s terminal leave application and thus “willfully, unlawfully and criminally caused undue injury to De Castro.”

In a decision written by Associate Justice Oscar C. Herrera Jr., the anti-graft court ruled that while it may appear that Robles was remiss in acting on the terminal leave pay of De Castro, “the evidence is insufficient to warrant to the conclusion that her failure to do so is indicative of evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

Citing a Supreme Court (SC) decision, the Sandiganbayan said that “mistakes committed by a public officer are not actionable absent any clear showing that they were motivated by evident bad faith or gross negligence.”

Also, the anti-graft court said the charge that Robles caused “undue injury” to De Castro could not be proved since she (De Castro) already received her terminal pay.

It noted that the late receipt of the terminal leave pay of De Castro has caused her inconvenience. However, the court said that such is “not tantamount to the undue injury within the contemplation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019,” the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

At the same time, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution did not present proof of actual loss or damage sustained by De Castro.

With Robles’ acquittal, the anti-graft court ordered the release of the P30,000 bail bond posted by Robles and the recall of the hold departure order (HDO) issued against her by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

The judgment of acquittal was concurred in by Associate Justices Michael Frederick L. Musngi and Bayani H. Jacinto of the Sandiganbayan’s second division.

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