Sandiganbayan orders Cebu councilor suspended for graft

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has ordered the suspension of Bogo City, Cebu Councilor Cresencio Verdida in relation to his pending graft charges involving the reported irregular disbursement of P20 million to the Bogo Municipal Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMEMPC).

In a resolution, the antigraft court ordered the 90-day suspension of Verdida for two counts of graft.

Verdida was the municipal accountant during the time the alleged offense took place.

According to the information charge sheet submitted by the Office of the Ombudsman, Verdida and his coaccused, former Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, former municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez, former municipal budget officer Mary Lou Ursal and former municipal assistant treasurer Julio Ursonal Jr. conspired with one another and awarded BMEMPC, a private corporation, with P20 million worth of public funds in 2007.

The money, which came from the Department of Agriculture as part of the Ginintuang Agrikulturang Makamasa (GAM) program, was earmarked for agricultural and livelihood assistance for farmers, fishermen and other members of the marginalized sector.

However, instead of being allocated to the GAM program, the money was turned over to BMEMPC, which in turn allowed its members to use it through salary loans.