Presiding Judge Georgina Hidalgo of Branch 122 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Caloocan City convicted former Barangay Chairman Rafael Oxales, Barangay Councilors Santos Campo Jr. and Rodolfo Bacolod, all from Barangay 181, District 1, Caloocan City, of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).
They were sentenced to imprisonment of five years with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Records show that on 5 July 2009, the accused passed Barangay Resolution No. 41 approving the procurement of supplies and materials with a budget of P1,600,000.00. During implementation, it was found that the supplies and materials were not delivered on time and that the items delivered were not in accordance with the approved technical specifications.
The RTC Decision stated that “by affixing their signatures on these Inspection Reports, containing false statements, will only show their unworthiness as public officers and their propensity to dispose public funds to the disadvantage of the people who elected them.”
Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 prohibits public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. ###