Sandigan junks former mayors’ graft plea

The Sandiganbayan announced that it has dismissed the plea of father and son Edgardo Zaragoza and Zuriel, both former mayors of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, to quash corruption charges against them involving P81 million worth of tobacco excise tax.

In a 10-page resolution signed on 4 December, the Sandiganbayan Second Division denied Zaragoza's motion for reconsideration, in which they sought the reversal of the court's previous ruling, admitting all the exhibits in the prosecution's formal offer of evidence.

To recall, the Zaragozas were charged with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or RA 3019 and malversation of public funds.

They were sued by Narvacan's incumbent mayor, Luis Singson, for allegedly misappropriating P81 million that the municipality earned as a part of the excise tax on locally manufactured cigarettes.

The sum was intended for the Federation of Farmers of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

The Ombudsman, which filed the charges before the Sandiganbayan following Singson's complaint, said the amount was "misappropriated" or "misused" by the accused public officials for their benefit.

The father and son served as mayors of Narvacan for nearly 30 years.

The prosecution stressed that Zaragoza failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the reversal of the assailed Sandiganbayan's October resolution