The Sandiganbayan First Division has acquitted former Ormoc Mayor Eufrocino Codilla Sr. of graft in the granting of permits to a cockpit owned by his son that was located on a property he owned.
The antigraft court said there was no basis for concluding that Codilla, a former congressman, had a financial interest in the cockpit when he issued business and operator permits in 2000 even if he owned the property it was in.
The prosecution had charged Codilla with taking advantage of his position as Ormoc mayor and unlawfully issuing permits for his son’s business in which he allegedly had a financial interest.
In its ruling, the court said the prosecution failed to prove that Codilla had a pecuniary interest in the cockpit owned by his son Eric.
“The court rules and so holds that ownership of the land and the building is one thing, while the operation of a cockfighting business in the said land and building, is another,” it said.
According to the court, the prosecution was able to establish that Codilla owned the land and building of the Valencia Sports Center where the cockpit was located, but this did not equate to a financial interest in the business.