Ex-Benguet mayor guilty sa malversation

Guilty ang hatol ng Sandiganbayan sa dating mayor sa Benguet at kanyang municipal treasurer kaugnay ng P5 milyong pondo na inilabas umano ng walang kaukulang dokumento. Hinatulan sina dating Bakun Mayor Bartolome Sacla, Sr. at municipal treasurer Manuel Bagayao na makulong ng 10 hanggang 18 taon sa kasong Malversation. Sila ay pinagbabawalan na rin na muling pumasok sa gobyerno at pinagmumulta ng P5 milyon. Ayon kay Sacla ang P5 milyong tseke ay kanyang ipinalabas bilang bayad sa medical supplies na binili ng munisipyo. Subalit wala umanong dokumento na makapagpapatunay nito. “At the time of the issuance of the check, two prevalent factors made the transaction highly irregular: one, the check was issued without any supporting documents such as the disbursement voucher; and the other, no Accountant’s Advice was issued, which was a COA requirement,” saad ng desisyon. Sinabi ng korte na hindi kapanipaniwala na hindi alam ni Sacla ang tamang proseso ng paglabas ng pondo ng gobyerno. “Considering the number of years and experience devoted by accused Sacla to public service from the time he served as the barangay captain to the time he was elected as councilor, until he became the mayor, he would have been more than aware of the fiscal requirements in the release of public funds,” anang desisyon.