The Sandiganbayan has acquitted three former ranking town officials of Caramoan, Camarines Sur of falsification of public documents in 2014.
Acquitted by the court’s 7th division were former Mayor Constantino Huit Cordial Jr., former Vice Mayor Irene Breis, and then Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Danilo Obias Belleza of alleged violations of Article 171, Paragraph 2, of the Revised Penal Code.
They were accused of falsifying Resolution No. 48, series of 2014, entitled "Resolution Earnestly Requesting His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for Immediate Removal of the Task Force Sagip Kalikasan in the Entire Municipality of Caramoan, Province of Camarines Sur."
They also reportedly falsified Resolution 48-A on the request addressed to then Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas.
They reportedly made it appear that Councilors Eduardo B. Bonita, Lydia C. Obias, and Francis R. Benemerito participated and attended in the deliberations of the said resolutions, and that the documents were unanimously approved by all the members of the Sangguniang Bayan.
But the prosecution claimed that the three councilors were not present during deliberation, nor were the resolutions unanimously approved by the city council.
In its ruling, the Sandiganbayan said the inclusion of the names of Bonita, Obias, and Benemerito is not proof that the accused abused their positions, or used their influences, prestige, or ascendancy to falsify a public document.
Based on the evidence presented, the court said the accused passed the resolutions during an extended session since "what is at stake are the lives and safety of their constituents."
It was proven during the trial that there was an urgency in the situation because it was the first time that a killing incident happened in Caramoan.
"We take exception in these cases because the evidence of the prosecution failed to show how the accused took advantage of their respective positions thereby leading them to falsify the questioned resolutions," the decision stated.
"To our mind, the fact that the names of Sangguniang Bayan members Bonita, Benemerito, and Obias are still reflected on the questioned resolutions, left alone, will not translate to falsification of public document per se," it added.
But the court reminded the accused that "they should be cautious in their actions, diligent to the letter in the performance of their functions and should remain focused or even when confronted with matters that necessitate urgent action."
"For public office is a public trust - where doubt has no place and integrity is foremost," it stressed.
The decision was written by Associate Justice Georgina D. Hidalgo with the concurrence of Associate Justices Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta and Zaldy V. Trespeses.