Antique mayor acquitted of graft

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan Second Division acquitted former Culasi, Antique Mayor Joel Lomugdang of graft after the Ombudsman failed to prove supposed irregularities in the purchase of P9,862 in public market supplies from a businessman who had lent him money.

The Sandiganbayan ruled that Lomugdang manipulated the process to favor businessman Nestor Kho Yute, with whom he had a loan agreement. It later turned out that the bid of Yute’s firm was the lowest in a public bidding.