THE Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division has acquitted former City of Naga, Cebu mayor Valdemar Chiong of graft and corruption charges that were filed against him in 2014.
The complaint against Chiong was made over allegations that he issued a mayor’s permit to a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) company though it had yet to secure a fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC).
In a 22-page decision approved on Dec. 4, 2020, the anti-graft court acquitted Chiong after state prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence that the former city mayor showed evident bad faith, manifest partiality or gross inexcusable negligence when he issued a conditional mayor’s permit for Petronas Energy
Philippines Inc.
The Sandiganbayan found out that the City of Naga Fire Department issued an FSIC to Petronas on Nov. 4, 2013 and was valid for a year.
“There is therefore no basis for the prosecution’s claim that Petronas had no valid FSIC when Conditional Mayor’s Permit No. RO1-484-2014 was issued by the accused on April 7, 2014,” the anti-graft court said.
The prosecution disputed the existence of Petronas’ FSIC as it was not produced during the preliminary investigation. But the Sandiganbayan junked the claim of the prosecution, adding that additional evidence not presented during preliminary investigation can still be presented and admitted in court.
The anti-graft court said the prosecution also failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Chiong gave Petronas unwarranted benefit, advantage, or preference when he issued the conditional mayor’s permit.
The 22-page order acquitting Chiong was penned by Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda and was concurred by Associate Justices Sarah Jane Fernandez and Kevin Narce Vivero. / JKV