Former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping has been acquitted by the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division of his graft charge in relation to the reportedly anomalous hiring of 80 personnel back in 2009.
Angping was cleared of his charge in violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. His co-accused, Philcare Manpower Services General Manager Edmundo Montanes, was also acquitted.
Angping was initially faulted for hiring 71 janitors and nine gardeners from Montanes’ company even though it did not have the necessary requirements.
At the same time, Angping signed an addendum in the contract of service without the conduct of public bidding.
Because of this, the PSC paid each of the personnel P15,324.42 monthly from March 2009 to January 2011.
In its 46-page ruling, the Sandiganbayan acknowledged that the addendum really did not undergo the process of public bidding.
However, Atty. Paul S. Vega, head of the Legal Affairs Office of the PSC, explained during his testimony that the addendum is but a part of the original contract, so they recommended that there was no more need to conduct public bidding.
While the PSC’s Legal Affairs Office’s recommendation was “misplaced,” the court said Angping could not be faulted for it.
“Accused Angping, who obviously did not act with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and gross inexcusable negligence, should not be punished for relying blindly on the recommendation of the Legal Affairs Office, an office principally tasked to render legal advice to the Commission,” the anti-graft court ruled.
And since the addendum was only adopted from the original contract, the Sandiganbayan added that it “cannot be considered undue injury within the context of the law.” (Czarina Nicole Ong)