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Sandiganbayan sets online trial of graft charge vs ex-Bukidnon mayor, 5 others

Philippines | National

Sandiganbayan sets online trial of graft charge vs ex-Bukidnon mayor, 5 others

By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki

Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan is set to conduct trial via videoconferencing on the case of former Mayor Laurencia S. Edma of San Fernando, Bukidnon and other town officials who were charged with graft in the P14 million purchase of equipment in 2004.

In a resolution, the anti-graft court set the online trial on May 26 after admitting several documentary evidence presented by Edma and the other accused.

Also charged in the case were former municipal accountant Felipa A. Catanus, state auditor Carlito S. Matias, municipal budget officer Nestor Lopez, private secretary Menchie Landicho, and Mindanao Philippine Sunday Journal proprietor Bernardita G. Basay.

The prosecution alleged that those accused purchased a brand-new soil compactor from Monark Equipment Corporation through direct contracting instead of public bidding, which was a violation of the Government Procurement Act.

"After evaluating the offer of documentary evidence, the Court resolves to admit exhibits... there being no objection raised as to their admissibility," the court’s resolution stated.

"Evidence not objected to is deemed admitted and may be validly considered by the court in arriving at its judgment. This is true even if by its nature, the evidence is inadmissible and would have surely been rejected if it had been challenged at the proper time," it added.

The court stressed that the "probative value" of these documentary exhibits can only be considered "in the ultimate disposition of the cases."

The three-page resolution was written by Seventh Division Chairperson Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses and Georgina D. Hidalgo.

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