Sandiganbayan convicts Alaminos City vet, 2 others
FOR CONFISCATING CHICKEN MEAT
THE city veterinarian and two others in Alaminos City were recently convicted by the Sandiganbayan for their unjustifiable confiscation of 2,455 kilos of chicken meat from a private complainant.
In a 37-page decision, the anti-graft court found the City Veterinarian Ronaldo Abarra, Meat Inspector Joseph Soriano and Security Officer Lyndon Millan guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) and sentenced them to imprisonment of six to 10 years. They were also ordered to pay P226,954.80 plus interest as civil liability.
Court determined that on April 17, 2009, the three conspired in ordering the confiscation and seizure of dressed chicken products owned by San Vicente Dressing Plant worth P250,000.00.
Abarra, together with Soriano and Millan, had claimed that the poultry was “hot meat” as it had incomplete documentation and were eventually given away to the Philippine National Police, Public Order and Safety Office, local government unit and a hospital.
The court, however, gave more credence to the prosecution’s assertion that the cargo was well-documented as it passed through the required inspection, sanitation and legal requirements for meat inspection, and that if there were missing details in the certification, they could have been verified from the supporting documents presented by the personnel of the delivery van.
The court further maintained that even if the Meat Inspection Certificate had missing entries, the San Vicente Dressing Plant was not given the chance to rectify the noted deficiencies
Under Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019, public officers and employees are prohibited from causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of their official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. (Eva Visperas/Leonardo Micua)
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