Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 5) — The Sandiganbayan has cleared a former of mayor of the municipality of Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental of corruption charges over donations he made in 2013 to a foundation he established.
In its decision, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division said the prosecution failed to prove Mayor Francisco Nazareno’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
“There is simply no evidence that accused’s acts led to the divestment of any property belonging to the Municipality of Moises Padilla. To put simply, it was not established whether his actions amounted to any overt criminal act,” the court said in its decision dated June 29.
Nazareno faced multiple counts of graft for allegedly authorizing the donations of cash, land, assorted medicine, office supplies, and vehicles to the Uswag Moises Padilla Development Foundation, Inc. amounting to over P2.4 million.
The former mayor was one of the founders of Uswag.
The court, however, said the prosecution failed to prove the donations were owned by the municipality.
“Then it could not be said that the municipality suffered any damage or injury by reason of accused’s acts,” the court explained.
