NEITHER his plea of being coerced nor his claim that he gained nothing from approving the mayor’s cash advances proved enough to save former Ronda, Cebu municipal treasurer Esperato del Socorro from a 12-year jail term after the Sandiganbayan denied his appeal.
The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division affirmed its February 7, 2023 decision that held Esperato both criminally and civilly liable for being an “enabler” and a “willing accomplice” in defrauding the municipal coffers.
Trial records showed Del Socorro and municipal accountant Genera Kasayan regularly approved the mayor’s cash advances regardless of the absence of any official travel.
The treasurer admitted he “didn’t have the nerve to refuse …out of fear” that the mayor would make retaliatory moves against him.
While she corroborated the intimidation tactics of the mayor, Kasayan turned the table on her co-accused by forging a deal with the prosecution and testifying against them.
Her statements provided the final touches to the prosecution’s evidence supported by the testimonies of state auditor Annabelle Arcadia Tantoy and her team as well as the documentation of all the cash advances.
Before the trial could be concluded, Mayor Esteban Sia died, resulting in the dismissal of all charges against him on December 1, 2021.
Del Socorro was left the lone defendant to face accountability for the criminal offenses. He was eventually convicted of graft and malversation of public funds, each punishable by six to 10 years imprisonment.
He was also fined P2.063 million aside from being ordered to pay the same amount in civil liability.
“Neither feigned ignorance of Mayor Sia’s unliquidated cash advances nor alleged “coercion” or “threats” …can exculpate accused dell Socorro. His conviction is anchored on the strength of the prosecution’s evidence. The Prosecution has established criminal conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt,” the anti-graft court said.
