Sandigan junks graft raps vs ex-Parañaque treasurer

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Parañaque City treasurer Anthony Pulmano of graft charges over his alleged unlawful grant of P9 million worth of tax amnesty to a real estate company in 2013.

In a 14-page decision dated Nov. 27, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division said the local government’s grant of tax amnesty to private corporation Chevy Chase Condominium Owners Association Inc. “could not be ascribed to Pulmano” as there was an ordinance passed by the city council to back the grant.

The Office of the Ombudsman charged Pulmano with violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in December 2016.

The ombudsman said Chevy paid its real property tax (RPT) balance beyond the period provided under the ordinance so it should have been automatically disqualified from getting tax benefits.

Based on the information of the case, Chevy Chase originally owed the city government P12.9 million in RPT but Pulmano granted the firm tax amnesty and lowered the amount to P4.04 million.

The Sandiganbayan noted that during the trial, both the prosecution and the defense stipulated that the company was “qualified” to avail itself of the tax benefits under City Ordinance No. 13-08.

The anti-graft court said Pulmano must not be held criminally liable over Chevy Chase’s payment of the remaining P1.965 million RPT beyond the deadline of the tax amnesty program.

The decision was penned by division chairman Associate Justice Alex Quiroz with the concurrence of Associate Justices Reynaldo Cruz and Bayani Jacinto.