MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the acquittal of Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito for graft over the allegedly anomalous purchase of P2.1-million worth of high-powered firearms when he was the San Juan City mayor in 2008. The court said Daewoo, not HKTDSI, manufactured the 17 units of Daewoo K1 5.56 MM Cal. Even then, it reiterated that the Ombudsman did not charge any private individual related to HKTDSI for the alleged anomaly. Justice Rafael R. Lagos penned the resolution, with the concurrence of Justices Reynaldo P. Cruz and Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega. Acquitted alongside Ejercito were: city administrator Ranulfo Dacalos, city attorney Romualdo delos Santos, treasurer Rosalinda Estrella Marasigan, budget officer Lorenza Catalan Ching, and engineer DaniloSalcedo Mercado.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 21, 2017 12:10 UTC