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3 ex-LWUA execs guilty of graft over P1.5-M grant to chess group

By Benjamin Pulta

October 23, 2020, 4:41 pm

MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has convicted three former officials of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) of graft charges involving a PHP1.5-million sponsorship grant to a local chess club 10 years ago. 

In a 31-page decision released on Friday, Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac sentenced former LWUA chairperson and incumbent Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., Emmanuel Malicdem, and Wilfredo Feleo to up to eight years in jail for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

"Each is hereby sentenced to suffer imprisonment for six years and one month as minimum to eight years as maximum, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office," the court said.

Pichay, who was simultaneously National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president at the time, had been charged for his actions when he was acting LWUA Board of Trustees chairman and when Malicdem and Feleo were LWUA acting administrator and acting deputy administrator, respectively.

A fourth accused, former administrator Daniel Landingin, died in May 2016, prompting the court to dismiss the case as far as he is concerned.

In the same ruling, Pichay was also found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 7 (a) of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and was sentenced to pay a fine of PHP5,000.

He was also ordered to reimburse to the LWUA the amount of PHP1.5 million, representing the amount of the unlawfully released sponsorship grant, plus interest.

The amount had been used for financial sponsorship of the chess tournament, the 2nd Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Chess Championship, which was named after him and held in his honor.

Pichay has asserted that he "did not violate the conflict of interest rule, saying although the request for sponsorship was made at the time of (his) incumbency as NCFP president, it did not require his approval and on the other hand, the action taken on the request by LWUA, specifically its approval, did not likewise require the approval of his office as chairman of the board."

"A judicious examination of the records reveals that the individual acts of the accused taken closely together dovetail a concerted action towards the attainment of a common devious purpose. The records show that accused Pichay was the proponent in the LWUA of the sponsorship of chess tournaments," the court said.

It added that the accused acted in utter disregard of a 2010 LWUA memorandum suspending all sports and cultural activities and Administrative Order 103, s. 2004, which directed the continued adoption of austerity measures in government, such as suspension of grants or donations.

Associate Justices Rafael R. Lagos and Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega concurred in the decision. (PNA)

 

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