QC Councilor Paulate to be tried for graft

Actor-turned-Quezon-City-Councilor Roderick Paulate will stand trial on graft and falsification charges in connection with the alleged hiring of “ghost” contractual personnel.

In a 26-page minute resolution dated July 9, the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division denied Paulate’s motion for the dismissal of the charges against him.

It also denied his claim that his right to the speedy disposition of his case was violated.

Although the Ombudsman took five years and 11 months to investigate the charges against Paulate, the court said the length was “justified” because of the “complexity of the issues involved.”

Delayed indictment

The defendants did not help matters as they filed several motions for reconsideration, delaying the accused’s indictment before the court.

“The protection under the right to a speedy disposition of cases should not operate to deprive the government of its inherent prerogative in prosecuting criminal cases,” read the resolution signed by Associate Justices Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, Zaldy V. Trespeses and Georgina D. Hidalgo.

In the same resolution, the court sternly scolded Paulate’s lawyer, Erika Krizia Galapate, for being “abrasive, discourteous and intemperate.”

In particular, it took offense at Galapate’s accusation that the court was “allergic” to the defense of inordinate delay even as another lawyer, Reynaldo Cabatigue III, apologized for the wording of the motion in a May 25 hearing.

“While we understand that an unfavorable decision usually incites bitter feelings, we cannot comprehend the snide remarks or sarcastic innuendos used by Attorney Galapate,” read the resolution.

Reprieve for lawyer

However, the court opted not to cite her in direct contempt, chalking the issue up to “human frailty.”

Paulate was accused of ordering his chief of staff to prepare personal data sheets and job orders for 30 contractual employees from July 1 to Nov. 15, 2010.

He also allegedly certified that the personnel worked for 40 hours per week and authorized his driver and liaison officer, Vicente Esquilon Bajamunde, to collect the salaries totaling P1.109 million.