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The Sandiganbayan First Division has found former Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad and former Councilor Jose Antonio Roxas guilty beyond reasonable doubt over the alleged anomalous bidding of PHP489.9-million worth city mall and public market project in 2004.
The case stemmed from the alleged irregular bidding of the project after the old Pasay City Bids and Awards Committee members facilitated the bidding process despite the existence of the appointment of new BAC members.
Trinidad was sitting as the chairman of the PBAC at that time.
The Ombudsman initially cited the irregularity after Trinidad met with old PBAC members and facilitated the awarding of the project when the new BAC members should have conducted the bidding process.
“The accused continued to perform duties and powers as chairman and members of the abolished PBAC when they convened on January 30, 2004, and conducted the bidding on the procurement of the project, they thereby prolonged the performance of their duties and powers as chairman and members of The defunct PBAC in violation of Article 237 of the Revised Penal Code,” the decision read.
Under the Republic Act 9184, the PBAC is the legitimate body which should have conducted the bidding process.
The court has sentenced Trinidad and Roxas six years and one month up to 10 years in jail for their graft case, while they are penalized an imprisonment of six months and 21 days up to 13 months for the violation of the Article 273 of the Revised Penal Code.
They are also temporarily disqualified from holding any public office for six years.
Meanwhile, the case against NGO-BAC representatives and Pre-Qualification Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) members Joselito Manabat and Alexander Ramos are put into archive, while they are still at large.
Text: Carolyn Bonquin, ABS-CBN News
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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