MANILA, Philippines – Natuklasan ng Sandiganbayan sina dating general manager Robert Dean Barbers ng defunct Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) at dalawa iba pang PTA officials na guilty sa graft para sa mahigit P3.7 milyong halaga ng sports complex sa Intramuros, Manila noong 2005.
Sa desisyon na may petsang Hunyo 27, sinabi ng Sandiganbayan na bagamat hindi nakakuha ng ebidensya ng corrupt o fraudulent intent ni Barbers at co-accused na sina Edgar Bocar at Jose Diaz, sinabi ng prosekusyon na “it was able to present proof beyond reasonable doubt on the accused’s brazen disregard of pertinent laws, rules, and regulations amounting to gross inexcusable negligence.”
Sinabi ng Sandiganbayan na tumuloy sina Barbers, Bocar, at Diaz sa PTA sports complex project at nagbayad sa I.A. Bosque Construction Corporation ng P3.7 million ng pondo ng publiko kahit na ang proyekto ay hindi inaprubahan ng Intramuros Administration (IA) sa ilalim ng umiiral na batas.
Ang IA, anang Sandiganbayan, ay paulit-ulit na nag-isyu ng notices of violation na hindi tinugunan man lamang ng mga inaakusahang opisyal ng PTA.
“As pointed out by the prosecution, the accused were given every chance to rectify their errors, but they remained adamant, resulting in the disbursement of funds for nothing. The acts of negligence of the accused clearly and collectively show that they are both gross and inexcusable, and amount to a tacit approval of a criminal design injurious to the government,” sinabi ng Sandiganbayan.
Iginiit ng akusado sa kaso na hindi sila sinabihan ng pagtanggi ng IA, ngunit ibinasura ng Sandiganbayan ang kanilang depensa sa kakulangan ng merito.
“This [defense of not knowing] does not inspire belief based on the evidence on record. To this court, it is a lame excuse for their disregard for the laws and duly constituted authorities,” ayon sa Sandiganbayan.
“Their open defiance of the law did not merely result in the loss of government funds but also incurred the risk that the project would not comply with the minimum safety standards, as signified by the required permits and licenses. This is not simply overzealousness in the exercise of one’s duties. This is breach of duty in a blatant and extremely careless manner,” dagdag pa.
Ang tatlong akusado ay sinentensyahan ng pagkakulong na anim hanggang walong taon, at
perpetual disqualification sa pag-upo sa pampublikong opisina.
Sila rin ay jointly at severally liable sa halagang P3.7 million na nagrerepresenta sa 15% mobilization fee na ibinayad sa I.A. Bosque Construction Corporation, na may 6% legal interest na binase sa finality ng desisyon. RNT/JGC
