Ex-DAR exec faces bribe rap

A former agrarian reform officer of the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) has been charged with direct bribery before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly asking for P130,000 from a lawyer of the Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Inc. in exchange for a favorable ruling of a land case.

The charges against Napoleon Baguilat, the regional agrarian reform adjudicator for CAR and a relative of Ifugao Representative Teodoro Baguilat, stemmed from a complaint brought by Sta. Lucia lawyer Miriam Daway.

Sta. Lucia had a case pending in Baguilat’s office when the alleged bribery took place.

Baguilat has denied Daway’s allegations, claiming to be a dedicated public servant as attested by the numerous awards for public service that he had received.

But the Office of the Ombudsman said Baguilat’s defense, consisting of mere denials, could not be given greater weight than the declaration of credible witnesses.

Daway alleged that Baguilat asked her for financial help in 2001, saying he wanted to support his nephew who was running for Ifugao governor.

Daway said she had declined at first, arguing that Sta. Lucia had no business interest in the province. However, Baguilat then mentioned Sta. Lucia’s pending case against the heirs of Saguilit Sacay, and asked her what she wanted him to do about it.

After Baguilat gave her a copy of a favorable decision in the case, Daway said she gave him P100,000.

However, she claimed that the order was never formally released to the parties and did not become part of the records of the case.

Daway said Baguilat later asked for more money, claiming he needed it for medication, and she gave him P30,000. When he called again, asking for more money, Daway said she declined and refused to take his calls. Leila B. Salaverria