SUPREME COURT ACQUITS KIMAKIM, FORMER GOV DALOG, 8 OTHER MP OFFICIALS

August 15, 2024 JUST IN

The Supreme Court has acquitted 9 former officials of Mountain Province and then private supplier now Municipal Councilor of Buguias, Benguet involved in the 2006 purchase of an allegedly overpriced government vehicle for Bontoc General Hospital. The High Court reversed the decision of the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division convicting them of Violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act). The Graft court sentenced the accused to to imprisonment of six to eight years plus perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of their retirement or gratuity benefits under the law. The case against their co-accused, former governor Maximo B. Dalog, had been dismissed on account of his death in June 2017. The Sandiganbayan found that the former officials purchased a Mitsubishi L-300 Versa Van at P843,700.91 on March 29, 2006 despite irregularities in the procurement process, such as specifying the brand of vehicle to be purchased and deviating from the purpose of procurement.

The prosecution said that undue injury was caused to the government in the amount of P87,700.91 which represented the difference between the amount paid to Ronhil and the lesser amount stated in the Vehicle Sales Invoice and Delivery Receipt. The National Bureau of Investigation found that a vehicle with the same license plate, chassis, and engine numbers was bought by Kimakim from Motorplaza on March 29, 2006, for P756,000. In a decision promulgated recently, the high tribunal’s Second Division said the Antigraft court failed to prove the accused acted with partiality and evident bad faith in carrying out the transaction.

Acquitted were former provincial accountant Theodore Marrero, provincial health officer Nenita Lizardo, provincial nurse Helen Macli-ing, bids and awards committee (BAC) chair Paulo Pagteilan and vice chair Lily Rose Kollin, BAC members Florence Gut-omen, Edward Likigan and Soledad Theresa Wanawan, budget officer II Jerome Falingao, executive assistant and BAC secretariat Abdon Imingan, technical and inspection group member Abelard Pachingel and then private defendant Ronaldo Kimakim. Councilor Ronaldo Kimakim was represented before the Supreme Court by the E.M. Avila Law Office Attorneys Edgar M. Avila anf Val Rafael Pamplona.