Sandigan affirms 4 execs’ conviction

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the graft conviction of four former municipal officials of Guiuan, Eastern Samar in connection with the procurement of a P2.1-million fire truck without public bidding in 2017.

The court’s sixth division affirmed the conviction of municipal budget officer Esperanza Cotin, planning development officer Ma. Nenita Ecleo, administrative officer Felipe Padual, and market supervisor Danilo Colandog.

It denied the motion for reconsideration of the accused in a five-page resolution promulgated on 14 October 2022 but only recently made available to the media.

All four were members of the town’s bids and awards committee.

The respondents had previously been sentenced to six to eight years in prison and perpetually barred from holding public office.

Then-mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, the primary accused in the case, was acquitted over the prosecution’s failure to prove her guilt in the alleged criminal offense.