Former Tuguegarao mayor acquitted in graft case

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting of graft in connection with the demolition of the city’s market to make way for its upgrade.

In a 22-page decision, the antigraft court’s Special Second Division cleared Ting of the charge for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

It said prosecutors failed to prove that Ting ordered the demolition of the Tuguegarao City Central Market in 2008 without authorization from the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Prosecutors accused Ting of ordering the demolition of the market, which had a book value of P23.95 million, even as the city council’s resolution only approved the upgrading of the market and not its “total destruction.”

But the court said prosecutors only presented “its interpretation and reliance to the wordings of the resolution that what was authorized is a mere upgrading.”

“The prosecution … failed to present any corroborating evidence that the Sangguniang Panlungsod in approving the upgrading project did not really intend for the demolition of the old market building,” the decision read.

The court said there was no manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence on the part of Ting when he implemented the city council resolution.

It explained that the city council’s approval also allows the demolition of the old two-story market, since they are aware of the project design for a three-story building with a basement.