The Sandiganbayan convicted Tanjay City, Negros Oriental General Service Officer Bogard Colina and Liga ng Mga Barangay Head Denver Bokingkito for violation of Article 213 (Frauds Against the Public Treasury) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and ordered them to pay a fine of P40,000.00 each with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency. They were also ordered to jointly and severally pay the city P280,876.34 as civil liability.
During the 2 March 2018 re-arraignment, the accused, assisted by their counsel, separately entered a guilty plea for their involvement in the anomalous procurement of construction materials worth P280,876.34 for the repair of barangay canals in 2011. Investigation found that no public bidding was conducted for the acquisition of materials and no justification was presented for the resort to the alternative method of procurement.
Under Article 213 of the RPC, it is unlawful for any public official who, in an official capacity, in dealing with any person with regard to furnishing supplies, the making of contracts, or the adjustment or settlement of accounts relating to public property or funds, shall enter into an agreement with any interested party or speculator or make use of any other scheme, to defraud the government. ###