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Presiding Judge Marilou Runes-Tamang of Branch 98 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City convicted Fermin Bilaos, former Barangay Chairman of Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City, of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).

Bilaos was sentenced to imprisonment of two years and one month as minimum to four years and six months as maximum.

Investigation uncovered that from September 2006 to March 2009, Bilaos utilized the barangay hall as business office for Pistoleros and Detective Security Force, Inc., a private security agency owned by him.

According to the RTC’s findings, “Bilaos conducted business in the barangay hall of Brgy. Pag-asa, Quezon City on a daily basis. The hiring and selection of security guards, operation of the business, payments of salaries were all done in the premises of the barangay hall.  Even the meetings with clients and potential clients were also handled in the area. x x x The 201 files, security equipment, firearms and radio were also kept inside the barangay hall.”

The RTC Decision stated that “it is enough that Bilaos had squandered unjustified favor to himself and Pistoleros in the exercise of his office as Barangay Captain. He acted with manifest partiality in conducting the affairs of Pistoleros in the barangay hall, when the office of the barangay hall is constituted to serve its constituents, thus causing undue injury to the government.”

Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 prohibits public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. ###