Chavit vows more cases after Narvacan ex-mayors partly convicted

Former governor and President Emeritus of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), Luis "Chavit" Singson, said today that more graft cases will be filed against former mayor Edgardo Zaragoza and his son Zuriel Zaragoza, also a former mayor of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

"The P81 million embezzlement filed against the father and son Zaragozas is just a tip of the iceberg as some more graft cases will be filed against them," said Singson in an exclusive interview with DAILY TRIBUNE Wednesday morning.

Singson said one of the most serious cases to be filed involves financial assistance supposedly granted to 65,000 farmers in the town—an allegedly inflated figure—when in fact, "there are only more than 6,000 farmers in Narvacan town."

Chavit, who previously served as mayor of Narvacan after defeating Edgardo Zaragoza, said he was shocked to discover the bloated number of farmers reportedly receiving municipal funds under the Zaragozas’ administration. He claimed the farmers did not actually receive financial aid.

Singson’s statement comes after the Sandiganbayan convicted former mayor Zuriel Zaragoza of graft but acquitted his father Edgardo and two former municipal employees—accountant Melody Cadacio and research assistant Mario Cabinte.

The four were initially charged with embezzling P81 million in tobacco excise taxes intended for municipal farmers in 2016.

Based on a 47-page ruling promulgated on 30 June, signed by Sandiganbayan Second Division justices Geraldine Faith A. Econg (Presiding Justice), Gardo M. Caldona, and Arthur O. Malabagui, the court found Zuriel solely culpable for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019).

Zuriel was sentenced to six years and one month up to ten years in prison and was permanently disqualified from holding public office. He was also barred from leaving the country.

However, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Zuriel of malversation charges, along with Edgardo, Cadacio, and Cabinte, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove “criminal intent and furtive design” necessary to establish conspiracy.

It will be recalled that former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson filed two graft cases, docketed as SB-22-CRM-0112 to 0113, for:

• Violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019

• Malversation of Public Funds

Singson alleged that the Zaragozas misappropriated P81 million intended for the Federation of Farmers of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur (FFNI). The funds came from Narvacan’s share of tobacco excise taxes under RA 7171—a law authored by Singson while serving in Congress to support tobacco farmers for their contributions to the industry.

Court records showed the funds were not used as intended. Instead, former FFNI president Constante Cabitac, who later turned witness, testified that he was forced by the Zaragozas to encash the P81-million check (issued under his name) more than ten times in exchange for a grocery allowance. He then delivered the cash to Zuriel’s residence in Narvacan.

The Sandiganbayan noted: “The court thus gives full credence to Cabitac’s testimony because the same is not based on humor, or hearsay, or second-hand stories, but on first-hand personal knowledge as a party to this contrived scheme who at the time, was also facing criminal charges precisely for the same fraudulent transactions.”

In convicting Zuriel, the court ruled that the former mayor caused undue injury to the government.

“The undue injury suffered by the government and the farmer beneficiaries consists in the fact that the former was denied of its mandate to discharge its responsibility to extend adequate or full assistance be it financial or through other means to intended beneficiaries,” the decision stated. “This effectively deprived the municipal government of Narvacan of the opportunity to implement meaningful programs which would have redounded to the benefit of the farmer beneficiaries,” it added.

In Criminal Case No. SB-22-CRM-0113, the court found Zuriel S. Zaragoza, Edgardo D. Zaragoza, Melody Cadacio, and Mario Cabinte NOT GUILTY of malversation under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, citing lack of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

The Sandiganbayan ordered:

• The cancellation and release of bail for all four accused in the malversation case, subject to standard auditing and accounting procedures.

• The lifting and setting aside of the Hold Departure Order (HDO) previously issued against them.

However, a new Hold Departure Order remains in effect for Zuriel Zaragoza due to his graft conviction.