Ex-DENR 12 head charged for graft

THE Sandiganbayan convicted a former official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 12 in General Santos City, after the latter was found guilty for graft.

DENR 12 former officer-in-charge and regional executive director RaquilAli Lucman was charged with violation of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices and is sentenced to six years and one month imprisonment.

Records obtained from the Office of the Ombudsman revealed that from September 8 to OctoTHE ber 16, 2009, Lucman demanded and received P1.5 million from private complainants Hadji Bualan, Sergio Balolong, and Aladin Saydala, for the issuance of free patents over public lands located along barangays Olympog and Tambler in General Santos City.

Ombudsman-Mindanao prosecutors presented Bualan as a witness who testified “with spontaneity and consistency and in a simple and straightforward manner, as observed by the court during the hearing earlier".

Bualan gave a candid testimony before the court. His testimonial evidence is corroborated by documents on record. The accused could not ascribe ill-motive on the part of Bualan to falsely testify against him; neither could he offer any reasonable explanation why Bualan would be interested in destroying his honor and integrity.

Therefore, any showing that the prosecution witnesses were actuated by any improper motive, their testimony is entitled to full faith and credit.

It must be underscored that the accused’s mere demand for money for the grant of the application suffices to warrant his conviction, the Sandiganbayan decision stated. ICT