‘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.’

Former governor and president emeritus of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Luis “Chavit” Singson is set to file more graft cases 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 this writer Wednesday morning.

Singson said one of the several cases that they are going to file against the Zaragozas is the bloated financial assistance to 65,000 farmers in the town when in fact, “there are only more than 6,000 farmers in Narvacan town.”

Chavit was formerly mayor of Narvacan after he defeated Edgar but was shocked to learn about the bloated number of farmers who were allegedly recipient of government funds from the municipality during the time of the Zaragozas, saying the farmers did not receive any financial assistance.

Singson’s action came after the Sandiganbayan has found former Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Zuriel Zaragosa guilty of graft, but acquitted his father, ex-mayor Edgardo Zaragosa and two others — ex-municipal accountant Melody Cadacio and ex-research assistant Mario Cabinte.

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

Based on the 47-page ruling promulgated on 30 June, by Geraldine Faith A. Econg, Presiding Justice, Chairperson, Gardo M. Caldona, Associate Justice and Arthur O. Malabaguio Associate Justice, of Sandiganbayan Second Division, the anti-graft court took note of the prosecution’s findings that “convincingly and satisfactorily” established that Zuriel is the sole culpable for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019).

Zuriel was sentenced with six years and one month up to 10 years in prison and permanently disqualified from holding public office.

The Graft court, however, acquitted Zuriel of a malversation charge, along with Edgardo and ex-municipal accountant Melody Cadacio and ex-research assistant Mario Cabinte, after the prosecution failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that they “acted with criminal intent and furtive design, with a view towards the fruition of conspiracy.”