■ SANDIGAN ALLOWS EX-LAPU MAYOR, 8 OTHERS TO TESTIFY IN GRAFT CASE

The Sandiganbayan has allowed former LapuLapu City mayor Arturo Radaza and eight others to testify relative to the overpriced purchase of 470 personal computers in 2005. The anti-graft court’s Seventh Division granted the defense’s plea to proceed with the testimonies of the accused to determine whether or not these are indeed “irrelevant, immaterial or misleading.” Apart from Radaza, those who are allowed to present their evidence are Teodulo Ybanez, Michael Dignos, Victoria Andoy, Elena Pacaldo, Marita Guiao, Leandro Dante, Ernesto Imbong Jr., and Rogaciano Tampus. The case stemmed from the graft charges that businessman Efrain Pelaez filed against Radaza and 18 others for the alleged overpriced purchase of 470 computers amounting to P23.476 million. An inventory, based on the sales invoices of two computer shops at that time, revealed that the computers of the same quality were sold for only P24,700 and P31,236. The anti-graft office found out that the computers should have been worth only P10.857 million. In July 2011, the Visayas Ombudsman suspended 18 personnel of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall for six months without pay after they were found guilty of conduct grossly prejudicial to the best interest of the service. After the defense terminated the presentation of evidence, the other accused–Cleofe Solis, Jennet Valencia and Rogelio Veloso–filed a formal offer of exhibits. But the prosecution opposed such offer. They fear that the testimonies will be “more of the probative value of the documentary exhibits rather than their admissibility.” However, the Sandiganbayan ruled to proceed with the presentation of the respondents’ testimonies.