SANDIGAN CLEARS EX-AIRPORT EXEC

Case stemmed from the purchase of one radio repeater by MCIAA several years ago, which the complainant believes is ‘grossly disadvantageous’ to the government.

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the dismissal of the graft case against former Mactan airport general manager Adelberto Yap relative to the allegedly anomalous purchase of radio equipment worth P168,000 in 2005.

“There is nothing in the motion for reconsideration...that would warrant a reversal of the same,” reads the Sandiganbayan’s three-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna.

The anti-graft court’s Second Division earlier granted Yap’s motion to dismiss the case, saying that the six-year delay from investigation to filing of the case violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial.

The case stemmed from the purchase of one radio repeater by the Airport Operations Department of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

Complainant Rogelio Yaun, a lawyer, lodged a complaint against Yap, Veronica Ordonez, and lawyer Sigredo Dublin, bids and awards committee (BAC) chairman, over the purchase.

Yaun alleged that the purchase of a radio repeater device was “grossly disadvantageous” to the government since the agency issued the notice of award to a bidder, which, although it offered the lowest bid, submitted a recanvassed bid of P168,000.

Yap, however, denied the charges, saying his order to recanvass was due to the preference for a radio brand Kenwood repeater system since their office has been using the same handheld portable radio.