The Sandiganbayan found Dominador Ferrer, Jr., former Administrator of the Intramuros Administration, guilty of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
Ferrer was sentenced to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six years and one month to 10 years and was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Records show that in August 1998, Ferrer allowed Offshore Construction and Development Company, a lessee, to construct new structures inside Intramuros without any building permit or clearance as required under the Intramuros Charter (Presidential Decree 1616) and the National Building Code.
In its Decision, the Sandiganbayan ruled that “as Executive Officer of the Intramuros Administration, [Ferrer’s] bounded duty was to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the Walls, including the ravelins and other public areas within the Intramuros, and to take the lead in enforcing the regulations, standards and guidelines governing land use and development within the Administration’s area of jurisdiction.”
Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 prohibits a public officer from causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. ###