NDCP official suspended over graft case

INQUIRER PHOTO/NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has ordered the three-month suspension pendente lite (during litigation) of Aldrin Cuña, executive vice president of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP).

In a five-page resolution on April 3, the antigraft court’s Third Division said the suspension order must be issued “as a matter of course.” “There are no ifs or buts about it. This is because a preventive suspension is not a penalty. It is not imposed as a result of judicial proceedings,” read the resolution penned by presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, the division chair.

Associate Justices Bernelito Fernandez and Ronald Moreno agreed with the resolution.

READ: Defense college not living up to name–COA

The court noted that Cuña ignored a Dec. 19, 2023 court resolution asking him why he should not be suspended. As a result, he was deemed to have waived his right to file an explanation.

Cuña, a former Quezon City administrator, is facing a graft case with former Mayor Herbert Bautista over the allegedly irregular release of P25.3 million in public funds to install a solar power system at and waterproof the city government’s civic center building.

Prosecutors said P25.3 million was released to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia Inc. even if it failed to secure a net-metering system from Manila Electric Co. —DEMPSEY REYES