Ex-Caloocan Mayor, absuwelto sa graft

Inabsuwelto ng Sandiganbayan First Division si dating Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri sa kaso nitong graft, kaugnay ng P1.7 milyon pathwalk at drainage project para sa lungsod noong 2011.

Ayon sa prosekusyon, isinagawa ang P1,778,559.94 to E.V. & E. Construction (EVEC) para sa pagsasaayos ng pathwalk at drainage system ng Phase 8, Package 1, Bagong Silang, Barangay 176, nang walang ‘itemized appropriation ordinance’ mula sa Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Caloocan (SPC).

Inaakusahan si Echiverri ng paglabag sa Section 3 ng R.A. 3019 o ang AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act kasama ang dating Budget Officer Jessica Cruz Garcia at si dating City Accountant Edna Villanueva Centeno, na kinasuhan ng falsification.

Matatandaang unang dinismiss ng First Division ang isa sa kanilang mga kaso matapos na tanggapin ng korte sagot ang demurrer hinggil sa ebidensiya.

Sa desisyon ng Sandiganbayan nakasaad na: “This court remains convinced that there is no evidence to even hint that accused Mayor Echiverri was motivated by evident bad faith in entering into contract for the improvement of pathwalk and drainage system.”

“The project itself was admittedly completed and properly accepted by the local government and has since been serving the purpose for which it has been implemented,” saad pa sa desisyon.

Iginiit din ng korte na walang naidulot na injury o actual damage sa pamahalaan ang implementasyon ng proyekto. Kasabay nito, bigo rin ang private complainant na tumestigo sa pagdinig at walang ebidensiyang naipakita na magpapatibay sa kaso laban kina Echiverri, Garcia at Centeno.

“From the foregoing discussions, it appears crystal clear that the prosecution failed to prove the charges in the instant criminal cases with the required quantum of proof in order to convict at this stage of the proceedings,” hatol ng korte. “It is therefore futile to still require the accused to adduce evidence for their defense.”