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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sandiganbayan acquits ex-mayor, two officials of graft for 'withholding' benefits of employee

Sandiganbayan acquits ex-mayor, two officials of graft for 'withholding' benefits of employee

Published Dec 10, 2021 02:57 pm

Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Mayor Joselito R. Alega of Francisco town in Quezon and two other officials of graft charges for allegedly withholding the release of the year-end bonus and cash gift of an employee in 2014.

Also acquitted by the anti-graft court were Cesar V. Rocas, officer-in-charge of the municipality’s Human Resource Department, and Gerrardo R. Cerudo, municipal accountant.

They were accused of conspiracy and charged with causing injury to Noel R. Castillejo.

“Based on established facts, the prosecution failed to positively show that the accused acted with malice, or that they had a fraudulent and dishonest purpose, or some perverse motive or ill-will to intentionally cause damage to Castillejo,” the anti-graft court ruled in a decision handed down on Friday, Dec. 10.

With the ruling, the court lifted and set aside the hold departure orders (HDOs) issued against them.

“Also, the bail bonds posted for their provisional liberty are ordered released subject to the usual auditing and accounting requirements,” the court said.

The decision was written by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang, and concurred in by Associate Justices Bernelito R. Fernandez and Ronald B. Moreno.

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