Ex-Antique gov gets 10 years for graft
A former governor of Antique province was convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan in connection with the anomalous purchase of P5.67 million worth of school desks and armchairs in 1997.
Facing 10 years imprisonment is Jovito Plameras, who is also ordered by the anti-graft court's Third Division to reimburse the provincial government P2.65 million for the undelivered desks and armchairs.
The 49-page decision was penned by Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz and was concurred by Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz Jr and Norberto Geraldez.
The case was based on a complaint filed by Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier, who accused Plameras of signing a purchase agreement with supplier CKL Enterprises on April 7, 1997 without any public bidding or an authorization from the Antique provincial board.
Under the contract, CKL was supposed to deliver 1,354 desks and 5,246 armchairs all worth P5.67 million. Delivery was supposed to be completed within 180 days from perfection of the contract.
Without waiting for the delivery, the accused signed Sales Invoice No. 0220 acknowledging receipt of the correct number of desks and armchairs "in good order and condition" and accepted Land Bank of the Philippines Craft no. DB97121.
The said documents enabled supplier Jesusa T. dela Cruz from CKL Enterprises to withdraw from the province's bank account the full value of the contract even if the delivery was incomplete.
Plameras claimed he thought public bidding was no longer required because a representative from the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (now DepEd) allegedly told him such a procedure is no longer necessary. He however failed to identify the supposed DECS official in his testimony.
The Sandiganbayan was unconvinced with Plameras' defense.
"The accused himself knew that public bidding was required. It bears emphasis that the accused was not born yesterday. He is a seasoned public official and, at the time of the transaction in question, was a governor of the Province of Antique, not to mention that he is also a member of the bar," the Sandiganbayan said.
Likewise, it noted that Plameras used an "unwarranted and improper speed in causing payment" to the supplier because payment was approved on April 24, 1997, while the initial delivery of the desks and armchairs were made on June 10, 1997, or two months later.
The Sandiganbayan said Plameras gave unwarranted benefits and advantage to the contractor while causing undue injury to the province of Antique.
"Every government official must learn by heart that a pbulic office is a pbulic trust. Faithful compliance with the law is a vital duty which every public official has to observe. Nothing less is expected. Lamentably, the accused failed to live by the standards expected of a public servant," the anti-graft court said. GMA News