Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 16) – The Sandiganbayan has cleared former Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Vice Admiral Rodolfo Isorena and three others over the illegal purchase of phone cards in 2014.
In a decision handed down on Jan. 13, a special division of the anti-graft court also found former PCG internal auditor Commander John Esplana, deputy chief for comptrollership Captain Joeven Fabul, and accounting chief Rogelio Caguioa not guilty.
However, convicted of violating the procurement law over the same transactions were former PCG deputy chiefs Cdr. Joselito Quintas (three counts), Capt. Ramon Lopez (two counts), Cdr. William Arquero (one count), and Cdr. Rommel Supangan (one count).
They were all accused of skipping public bidding when they split the purchase of call cards and other office supplies into several transactions amounting to over ₱6 million.
“The exoneration of accused Isorena, Caguioa, Fabul and Esplana, would not extend to the rest of the accused Supangan, Arquero, Lopez, and Quintas as they performed acts making them responsible for the splitting of payments,” the court said.
The court found that Isorena, Caguioa, Fabul, and Esplana could not be held liable simply because they were the final approving officers.
It said that the prosecution failed to present strong evidence proving they were directly involved and believed they relied on the good faith of their subordinates when they signed the disbursement vouchers.
“Every person who signs or initials documents in the course of their transit through standard operating procedures does not automatically become a conspirator in a crime which transpired at a stage where he had no participation,” the court said.
Those found guilty were sentenced to a minimum of six years to a maximum of ten years imprisonment per count.
