THE Sandiganbayan Seventh Division has admitted all exhibits offered by the prosecution as part of its evidence in the graft case against former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista and former city administrator Aldrin Cuña.
Over oppositions from the lawyers of the two defendants, the court held that documents already admitted as to the existence, due execution, and authenticity during pre-trial as well as those stipulated in open court.
Likewise allowed were documents testified on by the Quezon City Audit Group and those obtained from the Business Permits and Licensing Department as part of public records after they were identified in trial by official custodians.
The Sandiganbayan noted that the objections raised by the defense centered on the documents’ evidentiary value which it pointed out was not yet an issue at the formal offer stage.
“Accused Herbert Constantine M. Bautista and Aldrin C. Cuna respectively filed their comments and opposition to the prosecution’s formal offer. Notably, however, their objections heavily assail the materiality and probative value, rather than the admissibility, of the exhibits in question,” the court pointed out.
The resolution was penned by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, with Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses and Bayani H. Jacinto concurring.
