Former GSP-Cebu executive director gets 32 years for corruption
BY Peter Tabingo
THE Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has convicted former Girl Scouts of the Philippines-Cebu Council executive director Alejandrita Meca on two counts each of graft and malversation of public funds for alleged fraud involving P14.4 million in pork barrel allocations of former Cebu Rep. Clavel Martinez in 2002.
Associate Justice Kevin Narce B. Vivero penned the 71-page decision promulgated last April 30. Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Karl B. Miranda concurred.
When the cases were filed in 2014, Meca was named the co-accused of Rep. Martinez, the lawmaker’s son, former Bogo, Cebu mayor Celestino Martinez, former municipal treasurer Rhett Miguez, municipal accountant Cresencio Verdida, GSP-Cebu bookkeeper Rhodariza Kilantang, and cashier Julieta Quiño who were previously convicted of the same offenses on May 17, 2022.
On the other hand, convicted on separate charges of graft and malversation were GSP-Cebu treasurer Maria Cielo Martinez, daughter of Rep. Martinez; and former GSP-Cebu president and Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Paz Radaza.
During the promulgation of the judgment, Meca was still at large, prompting the anti-graft court to order the cases against her archived to be revived once it acquires jurisdiction over her person.
Later in 2022, the defendant voluntarily appeared in court to post cash bonds for her provisional liberty.
During the pre-trial conference on February 21, 2023, the prosecution and the defense informed the court that they would submit pre-marked documentary exhibits. Prosecutors also told the Sandiganbayan that it will adopt the testimonies of witnesses who have previously testified against Meca’s co-defendants.
The defense was supposed to start its presentation of witnesses on July 18, 2023 but informed the court that Meca suffered a heart attack after attending a hearing two months earlier and had to undergo emergency treatment.
Even after being discharged from the hospital, her lawyers said she was not cleared to participate in the court trial as certified by her attending physician. They waived presenting Meca’s testimony and told the court they were resting their case.
In pronouncing the defendant guilty, the Sandiganbayan held that as GSP-Cebu executive director, Meca was “a vital cog in the wheel of conspiracy” to defraud public funds sourced from Rep. Martinez’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations in 2002.
It noted that using her position in GSP-Cebu Council, Meca solicited financial assistance from the congresswoman’s office without observing the by-laws of the GSP and signed the general voucher that paved two withdrawals of P7.5 million each on June 20 and September 20, 2002.
From the said amounts, P7.1 million and P7.3 million were found to have been released to Rep. Martinez without any resolution from the GSP-Cebu Board of Trustees, enabling her to use them for her benefit.
“In the grand scheme of things, accused Meca completed the tapestry of events inextricably woven in this syndicate corruption. In sum, the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that accused Meca was a conspirator,” the court said.
Meca was sentenced to six to ten years imprisonment for each count of graft and 10 to 17 years for each count of malversation of public funds with fines totaling P14.4 million and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
She was also imposed civil liability in the total amount of P14.4 million payable to the Bureau of Treasury subject to six-percent interest until fully paid computed from the finality of the decision.
Ex-QC councilor found guilty on four counts of graft
BY PETER TABINGO
FORMER Quezon City Councilor Dante De Guzman has been convicted by the Sandiganbayan on four counts of violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for gross inexcusable negligence in the failed distribution of P6.41 million worth of supplies intended for various barangays in District III.
In its 104-page decision promulgated April 30, 2024, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division sentenced De Guzman to six to eight years imprisonment for each graft charge, for atotal of 24 to 32 years in jail.
He was likewise ordered to pay Quezon City government the amount of P6,411,261.01 subject to six percent yearly interest from the finality of the decision until paid in full.
However, the accused was acquitted on four counts of falsification of public documents and four counts of malversation of public property due to insufficient evidence to prove his guilt.
Testimony by prosecution witnesses from the Quezon City government revealed that it was De Guzman who submitted the purchase requests for 141 custom-made design tents worth P3.49 million; 1,177 kiddie raincoats and 1,177 rainboots worth P994,565; food supplies worth P352,986; and sports supplies worth P2.79 million in 2008 under his office’s Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMP).
The purchase requests stated that the items were intended for distribution to different barangays in District 3.
However, based on inquiries by auditors from the Commission on Audit, the items were never given to the intended beneficiaries and are no longer traceable.
“Accused De Guzman failed to cause the distribution of the subject items to the intended beneficiaries. The items were not distributed and could no longer be located and accounted for,” the Sandiganbayan noted.
While a distribution list was submitted to the auditors and the city government, the court said the lists “appear to have been prepared and falsified to conceal the non-distribution.”
“Accused De Guzman’s failure to cause the distribution of the said items to the different barangays of District 3, Quezon City was attended by gross inexcusable negligence. The Quezon City government suffered undue injury in the amount of P6,411,261.01… because of accused De Guzman’s negligence,” the Sandiganbayan said.
Associate Justice and Sixth Division chairperson Sarah Jane T. Fernandez penned the decision with Associate Justices Karl B. Miranda and Kevin Narce B. Vivero concurring.
PDEA report: P34.1B illegal drugs seized so far
under Marcos admin
BY VICTOR REYES
SOME P34.1 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized in the anti-drug campaign under the administration of President Marcos Jr., the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported.
Citing figures collated from July 1, 2022 to March 31 this year, PDEA also said 88,280 drug personalities were also arrested in 64,865 operations conducted during the period.
The suspects included 5,894 “high-value targets,” PDEA said, adding the seized illegal drugs included 4,448.8 kilos of shabu worth P30.25 billion.
The rest of the illegal drugs seized were 74.56 kilos of cocaine, 55,078 tablets of ecstasy, and 3,833.19 kilos of marijuana.
PDEA said 940 drug dens and a clandestine laboratory were also dismantled during the same period.
So far, a total of 28,511 barangays throughout the country have been cleared of illegal drugs and 7,004 other barangays are still subject to ongoing drug-clearing operations, PDEA said.
PDEA and PNP operatives, along with Army soldiers, seized P4.59 million worth of marijuana in an anti-drug operation in Barangay Santor, Rizal, Kalinga last Monday.
Two suspects were arrested during the service of a search warrant, PDEA said. They were identified as Arnel Sanga, alias Arnel; and Benjamin Marayag.
They will face charges for violation of Section 8, Article II (manufacture of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Also seized from the suspects were a digital weighing scale, an air rifle, and several pieces of woven sacks.
Police seized P142,800 worth of suspected dangerous drugs, firearms, and ammunition and arrested three persons in a buy-bust operation in Antipolo City last Tuesday night.
Lt. Col. Ryan Manongdo, local police chief, identified the suspects as alias Bord, 41; Bogart, 38; and Rod, 47; residents of Antipolo City.
Seize from them were 20 sachets containing more or less 21 grams of suspected shabu and a .38 revolver with bullets. — With Christian Oineza
FDA orders pharma firms to submit 2023 reports
on tie-ups with docs
BY GERARD NAVAL
AMID the controversy on alleged luxurious perks and benefits received by doctors, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday ordered all pharmaceutical companies to fully disclose their financial relationships with medical professionals.
In an announcement, FDA Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate said all pharmaceutical firms are obliged to submit such reports as provided under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Ethics in Public Health Policy and Practice.
“All FDA-licensed manufacturers, traders, repackers, distributor-importers, and distributor-wholesalers of drug, medical devices, and biological products, including vaccines, and medical supplies registered with the FDA are mandated to collect and track all financial relationships with healthcare providers and healthcare professionals and report these to the Department of Health, through the FDA,” said Zacate.
To ease the process of submission, the FDA chief urged pharma firms to use the Online Disclosure Reporting System (ODRS) when they submit their reports covering the year 2023.
“This system enables stakeholders to conveniently submit all financial relationship disclosure reports,” said Zacate.
The FDA’s reminder comes amid the controversy involving some pharmaceutical firms accused of giving luxurious perks and benefits and gifts to some medical professionals.
In exchange, said medical professionals supposedly have to meet a quota on the number of prescriptions for the firms’ branded medicines and drug products.
Chinese wanted for cyber fraud nabbed at NAIA
BY Ashzel Hachero
IMMIGRATION officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport apprehended a Chinese wanted for cyber fraud before he could board a flight to Hong Kong last April 28.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Qin Xingye, 28, was intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 before he could board an Air Asia flight to Hong Kong.
Qin presented himself for clearance at the immigration departure counter and was arrested after his name prompted a hit in the bureau’s derogatory check.
“He was referred by the immigration officer to his supervisors who verified his identity and later confirmed that the passenger and the person in the bureau’s derogatory list are one and the same,” said Tansingco.
The derogatory hit showed that Qin was placed on the immigration blacklist for being an undesirable alien and for overstaying and illegally working in the country.
Tansingco said Qin was previously charged for engaging in cyber fraud activities and working without a permit.
He is detained at the BI detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City.
