Sandiganbayan acquits Oscar Moreno, aides

The Sandiganbayan acquitted former Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno and other provincial officials of corruption over the lease of heavy equipment from 2007 to 2011. The antigraft court’s Second Division said the prosecution failed to prove that the lease was fraudulent. Also acquitted were former provincial administrator Patrick Gabutina, former acting provincial budget officer Elmer Wabe, former acting provincial accountant Divina Bade, former general services officer Elsie Lopoy, former assistant provincial engineer Rolando Pacuribot, and former administrative aide Leemar Tinagan. In an 81-page decision on Friday, the Sandiganbayan pointed out that while “the accused dispensed with the public bidding, they were not shown to have done so with fraudulent or corrupt intent, but to hasten the procurement of heavy equipment.” It also noted that the prosecution failed to prove the third element of graft, where the actions by the former provincial officials caused undue damage or injury to the government since it was not shown as a result of the transactions. The decision was penned by Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr., the division chair and concurred by Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Arthur Malabaguio. —DEMPSEY REYES

QC police nets P1M ‘shabu’ in 3 sting operations

More than P1 million worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) were confiscated by the Quezon City Police District in three separate buy-bust operations from Nov. 23 to Nov. 24. The Novaliches Police Station arrested Madelaine Grace Dalion, 29, and Jhon Delmar Villacorta, 28, on Thursday in a buy-bust operation at 7:10 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches, Quezon City. A police officer acting as a poseur buyer bought P45,000 worth of shabu from the suspects. They were also able to confiscate 100 grams of shabu worth P680,000, a black belt bag, cellular phone, a red Yamaha NMAX, a motorcycle key and the buy-bust money. The police worked in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region. Dalion was a resident of Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City, while Villacorta was a resident of Ugong Sulok, Valenzuela City. In a second buy-bust operation, the same agents arrested Victor Lauza, 33, also a resident of Barangay Bagbag, at 1 a.m. on Nov. 24 in Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City. They were able to seize 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000, along with a black sling bag, a cellular phone and the buy-bust money. A third operation yielded 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000. Police arrested Bryan Rivera, 23, from Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City, at 10 a.m. on Nov. 24 in his residence. Aside from the said illegal substance, they were also able to confiscate a black coin purse and the buy-bust money. —GILLIAN VILLANUEVA