Sandiganbayan acquits Bayambang ex-mayor
THE Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Bayambang Mayor Ricardo M. Camacho and private individual Willy L. Chua of two graft charges related to an alleged irregular transfer of public land in 2013.
In its decision, the anti-graft court ruled that while there were irregularities in the transaction, the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to prove the specific charges filed against Camacho, who was the mayor at the time, and Chua, general manager of Super Concrete Aggregates.
The charges stemmed from the controversial exchange of municipal land valued at P25.32 million with Chua’s property, which had a market value of P16.46 million. The prosecution argued that the deal resulted in a financial loss of P8.85 million for the municipality.
While the court acknowledged that Camacho was authorized by the Bayambang municipal council to engage in a Deed of Exchange or barter, it pointed out that such a transaction could only be conducted between government agencies or government-owned and controlled corporations. Chua, the private individual involved in the exchange, did not meet this criterion.
Despite this irregularity, the court emphasized that the charge sheets did not allege other specific wrongdoings, aside from the discrepancy in the market values of the exchanged properties.
Although evidence showed that the deal gave an unwarranted benefit to Chua, the court found that the prosecution had failed to charge Camacho and Chua with violations other than those related to property values. Furthermore, the court highlighted that Camacho did not determine the fair market value of the municipal land before the transaction and failed to secure approval from the Commission on Audit before executing the Deed of Exchange.
It also noted that the transaction did not comply with the provisions of the Local Government Code.
Despite these violations, the Sandiganbayan ruled that Camacho and Chua could not be convicted based on acts or omissions not explicitly detailed in the formal charges.
The 98-page decision was penned by Sixth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Kevin Narce B. Vivero and Karl B. Miranda. (Ahikam Pasion)
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