CA clears Ifugao solon of administrative raps

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The Court of Appeals (CA) has cleared Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. of administrative charges over the questionable purchase of a vehicle when he was governor in 2003.

The special former 15th division of the appellate court affirmed its decision last June setting aside the March 2017 ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman, which ordered Baguilat’s dismissal for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.

The CA dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by the ombudsman for lack of merit.

”The arguments raised in the appeal were mere rehash and reiterations of its allegations,” the ruling penned by Associate Justice Marlene Gonzales-Sison read.

The case stemmed from the provincial government’s purchase of a second-hand Isuzu Trooper worth P900,000 without public bidding.

In its 2017 decision, the CA said the “condonation doctrine,” which absolves a reelected public official of administrative offenses committed during a previous term, should apply to Baguilat’s case.

The CA noted that Baguilat allegedly committed the offense 12 years before the Supreme Court abandoned the doctrine in 2015.

The Sandiganbayan had earlier granted the motion to dismiss the graft charges filed against Baguilat, saying his right to a speedy disposition of cases was violated when it took the prosecution almost 13 years to finish its investigation.