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[av_heading heading=’Sandiganbayan acquits former city mayor over ‘seized’ logs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY: GLENN BEUP
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Wednesday, May 31, 2017
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ROXAS City, Capiz – Former Roxas City mayor Vicente Bermejo and General Services officer Glenn Amane were acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of usurpation charges.
Charges were filed against the two in 2005 for violation of Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. They allegedly disposed the logs which were used for the construction, fabrication and repair of various furniture of the city government.
According to Bermejo’s counsel Atty. Leodegario Dadivas, the former mayor was happy about the decision of the Sandiganbayan.
“The prosecution failed to prove his guilt because according to the court’s ruling, the logs were merely apprehended logs and there were no administrative proceedings instituted by the DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] pertaining to the seizure of the subject logs … which means the logs cannot be considered as having been officially taken into government custody,” Davivas said during an interview.
“There is a big difference between apprehension and seizure,” Dadivas said.
The court noted that the “prosecution failed to provide proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused disposed the logs under the pretense of official position, nor was it able to convince the court of the criminal intent evident in bad faith on the part of the accused in the disposal of the logs.”
Amane, meanwhile, said he has yet to receive the court’s resolution.
“Until we receive our copy of the court’s resolution, nothing is final,” he said in a text message./PN
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