WEDNESDAY

AGA CITY CITY, C Camarines i Sur: For using the vehicle of a private contractor who has transactions with his The decision of d diganbayan’s 7th the SanDivision handed down on November 10, however, parried an im- prisonment penalty for former Garchitorena Mayor Jesus Rico Sarmiento and instead fined him P2,000 for pleading guilty to the charges.

A complaint was filed before the Ombudsman against Sarmiento early last year for using the luxury vehicle owned by JM Cofer Construction, which was found to have a contract with the municipal- ity in 2014.

Sarmiento ran for reelection in the 2016 elections but lost to rival Nelson Bueza.

The decision written by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez- Estoesta said Sarmiento’s act was a clear violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

P.A. Properties president Jonathan Lu (center) officially turns the soil for the groundbreaking of Idesia, the first project between the joint venture of the company with Japan’s Hankyu Realty Co. Ltd. Officials of P.A. Properties led by its chairman Romarico Alvarez (7th from left) and Hankyu Realty Co. Ltd. led by Deputy General Manager Toda Masahiko (5th from left) break ground for the project in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The vacant ground-breaking ceremony was also attended by Pag-IBIG Vice President Corporate Sales Group Elmer Gabriel Tugade (3rd from left), Dasmariñas City Mayor Elpidio Barzaga Jr. and other officials.