Sandiganbayan clears Alegado of charges

Suspended Mayor Teresa Alegado of Consolacion town, Cebu can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The Sandiganbayan 7th Division dismissed the case filed against her for an allegedly unlawful appointment.

In 2011, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas found basis to charge Alegado after she allegedly illegally appointed Engr. Danilo Capangpangan as General Services Office head, even if his credentials were invalidated by the Civil Service Commission.

Lawyer Irish Dwight Remedio, Alegado’s legal counsel, confirmed the acquittal of his client yesterday.

Sandiganbayan 7th Division Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta penned the decision that acquitted Alegado.

The promulgation on Alegado’s case was made in Lapu-Lapu City when the Sandiganbayan held an out-of-town hearing there yesterday.

Based on the decision, Alegado’s case was dismissed after the prosecution failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Remedio said that with the ac- quittal of his client, they are now asking the Sandiganbayan to lift the 90-day preventive suspension imposed on Alegado.

The Sandiganbayan is set to furnish a copy of the decision to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the agency which implemented the suspension order against Alegado.

“Ang amo lang kay kung i-honor ba sa DILG ang original copy sa order gikan sa Sandiganbayan o muhuwat pa ba sila sa Sandi- ganbayan,” Remedio said.

Alegado was suspended from office last June 9.

Her vice mayor, Aurelio Damole, is holding the position in an acting capacity.

Alegado, on other hand, said that the dismissal of her criminal case has vindicated her from a vendetta of her political opponents.

Alegado reiterated that she did not violate any law when she appointed Capangpangan as GSO head. /