Sandigan clears former Pasuquin mayors

The Sandiganbayan has cleared former Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte Mayors Victoria Andrea Peralta Aguinaldo and her husband Oscar Dancel Aguinaldo of graft in relation to an alleged anomalous procurement in 2012.

Sandiganbayan Fifth Division Chairman Associate Justice Rafael Lagos said the prosecution failed to prove that that Victoria, then mayor, conspired with her husband when she approved the Bids and Awards Committee’s (BAC) recommendation that the contract to supply 2,600 liters of diesel to the municipality worth P123,500 be awarded to North Metro Oil.

This was despite its automatic disqualification as North Metro Oil is owned by Oscar.

In the Court’s ruling promulgated last 13 September, it is said that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the procurement had to be done through competitive bidding.

“Even assuming that bidding was required, there is no clear evidence that accused Victoria Aguinaldo through evident bad faith, gross inexcusable negligence or manifest partiality, approved the transaction to favor North Metro Oil,” the Court said.

The Court also said that no prosecution witness testified that Victoria influenced or pressured the BAC members to choose North Metro Oil as the diesel supplier.

“The evidence points to the BAC members acting within their mandate by choosing North Metro Oil because it offered the lowest and most advantageous quote ofP47.50/liter,” it said.

The Sandiganbayan also said the prosecution failed to prove that accused gave “unwarranted” benefit or preference to the said firm and that Victoria only relied on the BAC recommendation to use “shopping” and award the contract to North Metro.

“Seeing that North Metro Oil’s quote was the lowest and therefore the most advantageous, she approved said transaction as to do otherwise would have meant a costlier purchase for the municipality.”