Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and City Administrator Aldrin Chin Cuña were found guilty of graft over a contract with a systems provider firm, according to a Sandiganbayan ruling released on Monday, Jan. 20.
The anti-graft court sentenced Bautista and Cuña with imprisonment of six years and one month and up to 10 years. They are also banned from holding public office.
In 2022, the Ombudsman charged Bautista and Cuña for a single count of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act after entering in a contract with Geodata Solutions Inc. for the Online Occupational Permitting and Tracking System.
Then Mayor Bautista greenlighted the full payment of P32 million without an appropriation ordinance from the city council. Cuña signed the purchase request.
“The rush to effect payment to Geodata just two days before the term of office of both accused expired reels with the corrupt intent, dishonest design, or some unethical interest if only to ensure that Geodata received the payment,” the decision stated.
The court did not impose civil liability as the P32 million “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.”
Meanwhile, the camp of Bautista said that they will lodge an appeal to reverse the decision. He argued that the ruling had “reasonable doubt” as there was a dissenting opinion.
“We are deeply saddened by the decision,” said Bautista’s lawyer, Nilo Divina. “We maintain his innocence and assert that no act constituting the offense was committed.”
“[Former] Mayor Bautista did not financially benefit from the project, and no harm or injury was incurred by the city or its people,” Divina added.
Divina noted that evidence showed the project was received by the Quezon City government.
