Evidence vs Quisumbing strong

The court declared the testimonies of Ma. Regina Eugenio and Elizabeth Diego Buizon and the evidence presented by the prosecution as sufficient to convict the accused.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division yesterday said there is evidence to support the corruption charges filed by the Ombudsman against former Human Rights Commissioner Cecilia Rachel V. Quisumbing.

The former commissioner, accused one count each of graft, direct bribery or extortion and violation of Section 7(d) of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) involving financial solicitation, filed a Motion for Leave to File Demurrer Evidence through her counsel on 02 July.

But the court denied the motion in a resolution issued last 20 July citing lack of merit. It declared the testimonies of Ma. Regina Eugenio and Elizabeth Diego Buizon and the evidence presented by the prosecution as sufficient to convict the accused.

The charges emanated from a complaint filed by Eugenio, Buizon, Alexander Fernandez and Jesse Ayuste, who claimed that Quisumbing promoted Eugenio from administrative aide VI to senior administrative assistant III but demanded to collect a part of Eugenio’s salary from January to July 2013 which totaled P41,292.85

Quisumbing’s camp claimed that the prosecution failed to establish a crime of bribery due to insufficient evidence to prove she received money from Eugenio in exchange for her promotion.

In her graft case, Quisumbing’s counsel argued no evidence supports allegations that Quisumbing caused undue injury and the accused manifest partiality, evident bad faith or inexcusable negligence on her part.

The defense added that there was no agreement between Eugenio and Quisumbing regarding the complainant’s promotion, saying “it is not even among her official functions.”

Quisumbing claimed that she received money from Eugenio as custodian of the CRVQ Office Fund and claimed the fund is intact and not used for her personal benefit.

Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna with Associate Justices Oscar Herra Jr. and Michael Frederick Musngi signed the ruling.