Ex-treasurer gets 18 years for P43,675 graft case

MANILA, Philippines — A former treasurer of the Manila city government was sentenced to up to 18 years in prison for allegedly pocketing payment of P43,675 from a bank for mayor’s permit and business license.

In a 59-page decision promulgated on Jan. 31 but released only yesterday, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division upheld the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 55’s ruling finding Rogelio Reyes guilty of violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and falsification of public documents under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code.

The anti-graft court said Reyes failed to overturn the evidence presented against him by the prosecution panel, proving his “guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

For the graft case, Reyes was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. He was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

For the falsification offense, Reyes was meted up to eight years in prison and fined P5,000.

The cases stemmed from Reyes’ alleged connivance with LandBank-Taft Avenue branch cashier Salvador Echano Jr. in pocketing a manager’s check amounting to P43,675 issued by International Exchange Bank (now Union Bank), representing its payment for mayor’s permit and business license for its six branches operating in Manila in 2000.

Instead of depositing the amount in the account of the city treasurer’s office, Reyes deposited the check in the personal account of Manila RTC stenographer Liza Perez, and later withdrew the money.

The prosecution said Reyes falsified six receipts with supposed machine-validated numbers to make it appear that the payments were received by the city treasurer’s office.

Perez was acquitted by RTC Branch 55 after the prosecution failed to establish her participation in the commission of the alleged crime.

Echano was initially convicted of graft, but he was able to secure an acquittal through a motion for reconsideration.