Zamora pleads not guilty to malversation raps

Former San Juan City vice mayor Francis Zamora pleaded not guilty to technical malversation charges he is facing before the Sandiganbayan on Monday.

Zamora, along with former councilors Angelino Mendoza and Rolando Bernardo, appeared before the anti- graft court’s Sixth Division for their arraignment.

Ombudsman prosecutors indicted them for the alleged misuse of the city’s calamity funds worth P2.1 million for the purchase of Israeli- made rifles during the term of then mayor and now Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito in 2008.

Zamora served as councilor from 2007 to 2010 along with the other respondents.

The ombudsman said the city government acquired the firearms without a public bidding.

Zamora maintained that he is not guilty of technical malversation because he did not have the authority to hold and disburse money as a councilor.

He said the city’s calamity funds for that year remained intact.

Zamora said the guns were bought using the city’s supplemental budget.

Ejercito is facing a separate graft charges before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division over the alleged fund misuse.

The anti- graft court has suspended Ejercito for 90 days. But Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III has yet to implement the suspension order.

The Sandiganbayan set the hearing of the case on Nov. 22.