MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan affirmed the conviction and the 20-year imprisonment sentence of a former official of the Cagayan State University (CSU) charged with two counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division’s 48-page decision sustained the findings of the Regional Trial Court of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Branch 2 that found the accused Fe Aresta and her dummy co-accused Gerardo Zingapan guilty of the charges.
Aside from the guilty verdict, the anti-graft court also upheld the judgment sentencing of the defendants to six to ten years imprisonment for each count of the criminal offense with perpetual disqualification from holding any public office and loss of all retirement benefits. Aresta was found guilty on two counts.
Aresta was the former chief administrative officer and head of the CSU bids and awards committee (BAC). She was found guilty of taking an unlawful interest in the lease contract on the CSU dormitories which ended up being awarded to her dummy, co-accused Zingapan, who was then a CSU administrative aide.
As chairperson of the CSU BAC, Aresta was in charge of the bidding for the operation of the dorms Kapayapaan, Kalayaan, and Kaunlaran at the CSU-Carig Campus in Tuguegarao City in 2009.
There were three individuals who joined the bidding. Zipangan won the bidding even though he submitted only the second highest bid.
Courts records showed that Zingapan had difficulty fulfilling his obligation to pay CSU monthly rentals. After 5 months, his request for a reduction in his monthly rental was granted. But despite these, his missed paying rentals persisted.
Becaue of this development, the CSU executive director sent demand payments on arrears to Zingapan. Also included in the demand payments were his unpaid electric bills.
On May 27, 2010, the CSU sent a notice of termination of contract and notice of final demand to Zingapan.
This was when the graft was discovered.
Zipangan sent CSU a notarized sworn statement of September 14, 2010, saying that he was merely an agent of Aresta. He said that Aresta was the real lessee of the 3 campus dormitories.
In reply, Zingaan sent a notarized Sworn Statement dated September 14, 2010 disclosing that he was only an agent of Aresta and that the latter was the real lessee of the campus dormitories.
The Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit conducted an investigation which led to the indictment for corruption of Aresta and Zingapan. The two were charged in court on January 16, 2016. – Rappler.com