Sandiganbayan convicts dead ex-mayor

The Ombudsman charged the former mayor with allowing the holding of cockfight in an unlicensed cockpit. #JoelitoTalaid

The late mayor has violated the Cockfighting Law.

The anti-graft court has convicted former Kadingilan, Bukidnon Mayor Joelito Talaid who reportedly died in December last year after being shot by unknown assailants.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division, in its decision dated 5 December, found Talaid guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 5 (d) of Presidential Decree 449 also known as the Cockfighting Law of 1974.

He was sentenced to pay a fine of P6,000.

The Office of the Ombudsman charged Talaid for said violation, along with former Vice Mayor Nestor Baliguat Sr. and Dionisio Ranque, acting owner and operator of Kadingilan Cockers Association for allowing the holding of cockfight in an unlicensed cockpit by issuing a special permit without the approval of the Philippine National Police in 2010.

For insufficiency of evidence, Baliguat and Ranque were acquitted of the crime charged.

“From the evidence presented by the prosecution, the Court is not prepared to conclude that conspiracy existed among the accused,” the decision read. “The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the community of criminal design among all the accused.”

The court said the mere presence of Baliguat and Ranque in the unlicensed cockpit on 4 July 2010 does not warrant the conclusion that they conspired with Talaid.

“Other than their presence, the prosecution did not present any evidence to prove that accused Baliguat and Ranque conspired with accused Talaid,” the decision added.

The court authorized the release to Baliguat and Ranque the amounts they deposited as bail for their provisional liberty.

The Hold Departure Order issued against them were also lifted.

The decision is penned by Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr. with concurrences from Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musngi and Lorifel Lacap Pahimna.