For insufficiency of evidence, the Sandiganbayan has acquitted four employees of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) of their graft charges.
Acquitted were Emelyn A. Pizarro, cashier; Hendrei L. Soriaga, accounts clerk; Danilo A. Panaguiton, teller; and Ricardo G. Epino, document examiner.
They were charged with allegedly allowing an LBP check amounting to P364,892.61 in the name of Revenue Collection Officer II Marina M. Coronel, who retired on Jan. 23, 1998, to be deposited to an account that did not reportedly belong to the payee.
The prosecution alleged that they falsified the signature of Coronel to withdraw the amount on Oct. 15, 1998.
But during trial, however, the prosecution failed to present Coronel to confirm her accusations. Coronel merely offered her sworn affidavit and other documents.
Also, none of the police officers who examined the documents containing Coronel's alleged forged signature testified during the hearings.
"It bears highlighting, however, that even if the Court admits private complainant's sworn affidavit and treats the narration therein as though it was her direct testimony, it does not contain any statements that implicate any wrongdoing on the part of any of the accused herein," the Sandiganbayan’s decision stated.
Given the insufficiency of the evidence, the anti-graft court said the prosecution failed to dispute that the person who received the withdrawn amount had no authority to receive it.
The court also said the prosecution failed to prove that the accused did not perform their duties with regularity.
Associate Justice Bayani H. Jacinto wrote the decision which was concurred in by Associate Justices Alex L. Quiroz and Lorifel L. Pahimna.