Sandiganbayan clears Southern Leyte mayor of graft

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Maasin City, Southern Leyte Mayor Maloney Samaco and other local officials of graft for the alleged irregular P10-million purchase of communication devices in 2007. In a 30-page decision on Jan. 20, the antigraft court’s Second Division cleared Samaco, as well as bids and awards committee members Crispin Arong, Feorillo Demeterio, Anecito Narit, Amado Acasio, Encarnacion Lora and Consuelo Ladrera after the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The seven were accused of conspiring to award to Philflex Trading and General Merchandise a P10-million contract for communications equipment without public bidding. However, the court upheld that Samaco and the others had fulfilled the requirements needed for direct contracting instead of public bidding.

—Krixia Subingsubing