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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ex-Ilocos Sur town mayor convicted in P81-M graft case

Ex-Ilocos Sur town mayor convicted in P81-M graft case

Published Jul 2, 2025 10:58 am
The Sandiganbayan has convicted former mayor Zuriel S. Zaragoza of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur in the reported misuse of P81 million share of the municipality in excise taxes on locally-manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes in 2016.
In a decision promulgated last June 30, the anti-graft court sentenced Zaragoza to a prison term ranging from six to 10 years with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
However, Zaragoza was acquitted of malversation charge together with his father, also former mayor Edgardo Zaragoza, and former municipal accountant Melody L. Cadacio and education research assistant Mario G. Cabinte.
Former mayor Edgardo, Cadacio, and Cabinte were also acquitted of graft charge for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In criminal charges filed on July 18, 2022, the prosecution accused them of misappropriating P81 million intended for the benefit of the Federation of Famers of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Inc. (FFNII).
The amount was sourced from the local excise taxes on locally-manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes under Republic Act No. 7171, An Act to Promote the Development of Farmers in the Virginia Tobacco Producing Provinces.
The Sandiganbayan found that the farmer beneficiaries did not receive their allocated financial assistance and FFNII was merely made a conduit for Zuriel to receive the money.
Because of Zuriel’s actions, the anti-graft court said the municipal government lost the opportunity to implement meaningful programs that would have benefited the farmer beneficiaries.
On the malversation charge, the court said the prosecution failed to prove that the accountable public officers received the money and later failed to account for it.
All in all, their collective participation in the alleged conspiracy appears to be more imagined than real. Surely, criminal liability may not be had simply on the basis of acts that can be taken independently and do not show a unity in person, the court also said.
The 47-page decision was signed by Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith A. Econg with Associate Justices Edgardo M. Caldona and Arthur O. Malabaguio.
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