Guilty or not guilty?
Former Quezon City Councilor Roderick M. Paulate and his driver-liaison officer Vicente Bajamunde will know on November 25 the verdict of the Sandiganbayan in their graft and falsification cases.
"Accordingly, the defense having rested its case, and the prosecution manifested that it will no longer present rebuttal evidence, the parties are given 30 days from receipt of this resolution within which to submit their respective Memoranda, after which, this case shall be deemed submitted for decision," the anti-graft court said.
"Accused (Paulate and Bajamunde) are reminded of the promulgation of judgment which was previously set on November 25 at 8:30 in the morning at the Fourth Division Courtroom," it added.
Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespreses wrote the July 28, 2022 resolution with the concurrence of Chairperson Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta and Associate Justice Arthur O. Malabaguio.
Paulate and Bajamundo were charged with one count of graft and nine counts of falsification of public documents in the reported “fictitious job contractors” hired in 2010.
The prosecution claimed that they caused undue injury to Quezon City government in the total amount of P1,109,000 when they hired about 60 "fictitious job contractors" in Paulate's office.
In a resolution dated July 28, the anti-graft court admitted several exhibits from the defense. With these exhibits subject to the court's appreciation of their probative value, the defense has been deemed to have rested its case.
After the filing of the memorandum by both the prosecution and the defense, the court will deliberate on the cases and, thereafter, hand down its decision.