Sandiganbayan acquits ex-Bataan mayor, ex-councilor over market land issue

BALANGA CITY — The Sandiganbayan has cleared former Samal town Mayor Rolando Tigas and Bataan Provincial Board Member Rafael Guinto of graft charges over a purchase of land for a public market in 2005.

However, the graft court’s Fourth Division sentenced former Samal councilors Clemenco Abella and Hercules Llanda to six-year prison terms.

The Samal municipal government had applied for a P2.5 million loan from the Philippine National Bank for the May 6, 2005 acquisition of a three-hectare lot near the municipal hall. Guinto was a councilor in 2005.

The 21-page decision said Llanda and Abella convinced the local government to borrow P3.5 million instead to cover capital gains tax and the cost of buying road right of way.

The landowner received the P2.5 million payment but the court said Abella and Llanda could not produce receipts and pertinent documents to account for the P1 million balance.

The court concluded that neither Tigas nor Guinto took part in the transaction. /vvp