Court acquits ex-La Union lawmaker, 2 others
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 11:55:16 +0000
THE Sandiganbayan’s First Division has acquitted former La Union 2nd District Rep. Thomas Dumpit Jr. a.k.a. Tomas Dumpit Jr. and two others of graft in connection with the alleged misuse of P14.55-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.
In a decision promulgated on November 8, the court granted the demurrer to evidence of Dumpit and acquitted Romulo Relevo and Rhodora Mendoza from the National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor) at the time material to the cases.
The three were charged with two counts of graft, one count of malversation, and one count of malversation through falsification.
“Accused Dumpit did not perform an act which manifested that he unilaterally chose KMBFI [or Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation, Inc.] as the implementing NGO [or non-government organization] of the livelihood project. He was not a party to or a signatory of the two MOAs [or memorandums of agreement] between NABCOR and KMBFI”, the court said in part.
“No evidence was likewise presented showing that he had a palpably and patently fraudulent and dishonest purpose showing evident bad faith. Further, he did not act with gross inexcusable negligence in the release of the fund to KMBFI or the implementation of the project,” it said.
The court also said that the prosecution failed to establish that Relevo and Mendoza, and even Dumpit, knew that the supporting documents to the disbursement voucher and check were supposedly falsified.
“On the contrary, upon reviewing that the supporting documents were existing and complete, they performed the consequent task required of them: for Relevo, to sign the disbursement voucher; for Mendoza, to sign the check”, the court said in part. REINA C. TOLENTINO