Graft cases filed vs 2 ex-Ilocos Sur mayors over P81-M ‘misuse’

NARVACAN, Ilocos  Sur --  The Sandiganbayan has allowed the prosecution panel of the Office of the Ombudsman to drop the charges filed against the president of a farmers’ organization of this town and make him a state witness in the graft and malversation cases filed against former Narvacan mayors Zuriel Zaragoza and his father Edgardo.
    In a 27-page resolution promulgated on Aug. 18, the anti-graft court’s second division granted the motion of the prosecution to discharge private respondent Constante Cabitac, president of the Federation of Farmers of Narvacan.

    The court said the prosecution was able to prove that Cabitac’s testimony would be vital in proving its case against the public officials, noting that he had first-hand knowledge of the commission of the crime.
    The court said Cabitac’s testimony “would supply the necessary evidence” to link the Zaragozas and their co-accused municipal accountant Melody Cadacio and education research assistant Mario Cabinte.
    “There is no other direct evidence available for the proper prosecution of the offenses committed, other than the testimony of accused Cabitac,” the second division said.
    The cases stemmed from the alleged misuse of P81 million in municipal government’s shares in tobacco excise tax for locally manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes.
    The ombudsman said the amount, which was intended for members of the Federation of Farmers of Narvacan, was instead “misappropriated or misused” by the accused public officials for their personal benefit. – Elizabeth Marcelo