Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 23) – The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of former San Fernando, Bukidnon mayor Laurencia Edma over the anomalous purchase of heavy equipment in 2004.
In an October 2022 decision recently uploaded on its website, the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division dismissed Edma’s appeal for lack of merit.
“In fine, the accused were not able to sufficiently prove any strong justification which would warrant the reversal, much less modification, of the assailed decision,” the court said.
The court initially handed down a guilty verdict against Edma and former municipal accountant Felipa Catanus last August for approving the purchase of a tractor bulldozer and a vibratory soil compactor worth ₱19.4 million without public bidding.
Edma and Catanus face 6 to 10 years of imprisonment for violating procurement laws.
Meanwhile, Edma and former state auditor Carlito Matias were also found guilty of falsifying public documents, which adds another 2 to 8 years in prison and a P15,000 fine.
Matias led the special audit team that initially looked into the transaction and found no irregularity in it.
They are all perpetually disqualified from public office.
