MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Oriental Mindoro Governor Rodolfo Valencia and a businessman of graft over the purchase of overpriced dump trucks in 1993.

In its 27-page decision released to the media on Monday, February 24, the Sandiganbayan ruled that Valencia and Gaikoku Trading Company president Edelbert Uyboco violated Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The court found out that the provincial government’s purchase of 10 units of reconditioned dump trucks worth P6.99 million during Valencia’s term did not go through public bidding. A direct procurement from Gaikoku Trading Company was made.

The Sandiganbayan also cited a report by the Commission on Audit, which said that a tax exemption was granted in favor of the province, because it was a direct importer of the dump trucks and Gaikoku acted as import-in-charge.

But despite the tax exemption, Gaikoku was paid in full. The total acquisition cost should only be P4.59 million, resulting in an overpayment of P2.4 million.

The court found conspiracy between Valencia and Uyboco in the purchase of the dump trucks.

“These acts of accused Rodolfo Valencia constitute not only of fraud but also indicate a dishonest purpose or some moral obliquity, the conscious doing of a wrong, and a breach of sworn duty through some bad motive or intent or ill-will,” the Sandiganbayan stated in its decision.

Valencia and Uyboco were each sentenced to imprisonment of 6 years and one month as minimum to 10 years as maximum.

They were also ordered to jointly and severally indemnify the provincial government by returning the P2.4 million excess payment.

A co-accused, Carlo Maramot, who was then officer-in-charge of the Provincial Government Services Office, was acquitted of the charges.

Valencia is among the former lawmakers charged with graft and malversation by the Department of Justice in connection with the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam.

He was governor of Oriental Mindoro from 1992 to 2001, and representative of the province’s first district from 1987 to 1992, and from 2004 to 2013.

His son, Nico Valencia, lost in the 2013 congressional elections to Calapan City mayor Paulino Salvador “Doy” Leachon. – Rappler.com