Sandigan junks Ilocos Sur ex-mayor’s bid on graft raps

By Elizabeth Marcelo

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur -- The Sandiganbayan has denied a motion of Diocaesar Suero, former Cabugao mayor, to present a new witness in graft and malversation cases filed against him in connection with the allegedly anomalous farm-to-market road project in 2010.
    In a resolution promulgated on Dec. 3, the Sandiganbayan said Suero failed to show any compelling reason that would convince the court to allow a certain Renato or Charlie Siruno to testify through written interrogatories before the Philippine consulate in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The anti-graft court said Suero did not attach in his motion the written interrogatories or questions that he wanted his new witness to testify on.

Suero is facing charges of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation as provided under the Revised Penal Code.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Suero conspired with former municipal officials Florante Jara and Jose Suboc in releasing the amount of P926,650 as payment to a private entity even as the farm-to-market road project  in Barangay Cuantacla was not completed.

\Siruno was chairman of Barangay Cuantacla at the time the road project was being undertaken.