The former mayor of Caibiran, Biliran, Melchor Maderazo, is facing six to eight years imprisonment after a judgment rendered by the Sandiganbayan convicted him of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019). He was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office and was ordered to pay P305,481.06 as civil liability to the government. The court also convicted his co-accused Orlando Salentes, Jr. (municipal accountant) and Dionesio Veruen, Jr. (municipal budget officer).
Prosecutors from the Ombudsman established that Maderazo, et. al. illegally facilitated the release of his salaries and other benefits despite being placed under a series of suspension orders from the Sandiganbayan and by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Records show that after serving his suspension, Maderazo directed Salentes and Veruen to process the payment of his back salaries for the period September 2002 to September 2003 totaling P305,481.06.
In a 33-page Decision of the Sandiganbayan, it ruled that Maderazo failed to justify the receipt of back wages. The court explained that “under Section 64 of the Local Government Code and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 3019, unequivocally provide that an official under preventive suspension is not entitled to salaries and benefits while under preventive suspension. It is only upon exoneration that the official may be entitled to such back salaries and benefits.” ###