EX-QC MAYOR HERBERT BAUTISTA, AIDE SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR GRAFT

THE Sandiganbayan has found ex-Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista and former city administrator Aldrin Cuña guilty of graft and were sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment.

Bautista and Cuña were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

In a 146-page decision released Monday, the Sandiganbayan found Bautista and Cuña  guilty of the charges.

The graft raps stemmed from the P32-million permitting and tracking system project in 2019.

Bautista and Cuña were charged for the payment of P32 million to private supplier Geodata Solutions Inc. for the Online Occupational Permitting Tracking System, which was supposed to expedite city hall transactions.

According to the prosecution, the payment proceeded even without authorization from the City Council and proof of complete delivery by the supplier.

The Anti-Graft Court, however, did not order Bautista and Cuña to pay fines since the public funds involved were received by the private firm, which is not a party to the case.

“No civil liability will be adjudged at this instance considering that the amount of P32,107,912 cannot be directed to be paid by either accused, the same having been received in full by a private party which is not a party to this case,” the Sandiganbayan decision read.

The decision was penned by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta and was concurred by Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Georgina Hidalgo. 

Bautista served as mayor of Quezon City for three consecutive terms from 2010 to 2019.