The mayor of Laurel town in Batangas was found guilty of graft for withholding the salary and benefits of a local official not affiliated with his political party. In a 40-page decision promulgated on September 24, the Sandiganbayan convicted Mayor Randy James Amo for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act with a sentence of 6 to 10 years’ imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. On August 9, Amo was served with a 90-day suspension order because of the same complaint filed by Eusebio Bilog, who claimed that he was illegally replaced as president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Laurel town. The complainant said Amo ordered the Municipal Budget Officer, Municipal Treasurer and Municipal Accountant to withold his salary upon Endaya’s assumption of office. But in a decision released by Maria Viviane Cacho-Calicdan of the Office of the Ombudsman on November 18, 2013, she found probable cause in the complaint filed by Bilog and forwarded the same to the Sandiganbayan.

Source: Manila Times September 29, 2018 16:41 UTC