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SANDIGAN: EX-QC MAYOR GUILTY

January 20, 2025 Jester P. Manalastas 69 views

FORMER Quezon City Mayor Herbert and his former administrator have been found guilty of graft over the procurement of Online Occupational Permitting and Tracking System (OOPTS) in 2019.

In a decision promulgated by the Special Seventh Division of the Sandiganbayan, both Bautista and former city administrator Aldrin Cuña were sentenced to jail terms of six to 10 years.

They are also disqualified to hold public offices perpetually.

The case stemmed from the P32 million contract for the purchase of the city’s occupational permitting and tracking system in 2019 without the city council’s approval.

“Wherefore, judgement is rendered finding accused Herbert Constantine Maclang Bautista and Aldrin Chin Cuña Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Sec 3 of Republic Act No. 3019,” the ruling read.

However, the anti-graft court did not order Bautista and Cuña to pay fines since the said amount was already received by the private firm, which is not a party to the case.

The prosecutors accused Bautista and Cuña of facilitating the full payment of supplier Geodata Solutions Inc., for the OOPTS without authorization from the city council and before the completion of the project.

In March last year, Sandiganbayan denied Bautista’s motion for leave to file demurrer to evidence, saying that “sufficiency of evidence is inevitably found.”

Bautista in a previous statement said the case is politically motivated without mentioning those behind it.

In 2023, Bautista denied being part of any conspiracy to commit graft, saying that purported conspiracy could not be proven with the fact that he entered into a contract.

The former comedian ran for Senate in 2022 but lost.