HOW did JV Ejercito get off the hook in gun deal?

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted Sen. JV Ejercito of charges of graft in connection to the purchase of high-powered firearms by San Juan City when he was mayor in 2008, leading to the lifting of his 90-day suspension from the Senate.

The senator had only begun serving his suspension on Nov. 8, after losing an appeal before the Supreme Court. In a 45-page resolution, the antigraft court’s Fifth Division granted the demurrer filed by Ejercito and five other city officials, effectively dismissing the graft case for lack of evidence.

Also acquitted were: city administrator Ranulfo Dacalos, city attorney Romualdo delos Santos, treasurer Rosalinda Estrella Marasigan, budget officer Lorenza Catalan Ching and engineer Danilo Salcedo Mercado.

The graft case concerned the alleged anomalies in the award of the P2.1-million contract to lone bidder HK Tactical Defense System Inc. for the purchase of 17 units of Daewoo K1 5.56mm cal. submachine guns, three units of Daewoo K2 5.56mm submachine guns and 10 units of HK UMP .45 cal. Nato submachine guns.

The payment allegedly came from the city’s calamity funds. State prosecutors also said that city officials hastily conducted the procurement process without competitive bidding and questioned why specific brands of firearms were requested.

The Fifth Division, however, said the specification of the brand and name of firearms “never came from accused Ejercito or his coaccused,” as these were not contained in his request letter. These brands were mentioned in the city ordinances passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan instead.

“In this respect, it may be correctly argued that it should be the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod who should be held responsible for such inclusion or specification,” the resolution stated.

Ejercito on Thursday welcomed the decision of the Sandiganbayan clearing him of the graft charge.