BY CZARINA NICOLE ONG-KI
The Sandiganbayan Third Division has cleared Lucban, Quezon Vice Mayor Moises Villaseñor of graft and violating the Water Crisis Act due to the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Villaseñor, formerly the mayor of Lucban, had been charged with violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Section 8(d) and (f) of RA No. 8041, also known as the Water Crisis Act.
In January 2008, Villaseñor implemented the Samil, Ayuti, Kalyaat, Abang (SAKA)-Rural Water and Sanitation (Ruwasa) project.
The prosecution accused him of installing two undocumented and unmetered water pipelines for his private residence in Barangay Samil, therefore enjoying unlimited and free water supply until September 11, 2014 in the amount of P1,702,138.21.
The prosecution added that Villaseñor made the connection with water lines at SAKA-Ruwasa intake box for his own use without prior authority or consent from the Apolinario dela Cruz Waterworks System.
However, the prosecution was unable to provide any concrete evidence that would prove that Villaseñor actually installed or caused the installation of the pipelines. What they provided, the court said, is nothing but “bare allegations.”
While the prosecution witnesses said that Villaseñor installed the water pipelines directly connecting to his house when he occupied the property in 2008, there was no other proof that would corroborate the allegation. (Czarina Nicole Ong-Ki)
