For her stamp of approval on transactions entered into by the municipality with a business owned by her daughter, Mayor Lucena Demaala of Narra, Palawan, was convicted by the Sandiganbayan of 14 counts of violation of Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act). Accused Demaala was sentenced to imprisonment of six to 10 years for each count.
Records show that in 2000, Demaala procured office supplies and printing services worth P93,521.00 from ADB Trading and Services, a business owned by her daughter, Arlene Barquilla Cabando.
“[The] evidence indubitably show that, in her official capacity as the mayor of Narra, Palawan, the accused took part in the transactions of the municipality with ADB Trading and Services, by approving all of the disbursement vouchers for the payment of the supplies, materials and Risograph printing to ADB Trading; and, that the accused had an indirect pecuniary interest in ADB Trading, the same being owned by her daughter.
Under Section 3(h) of R.A. No. 3019, government officials and employees are prohibited from directly or indirectly having financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest. ###