Ex-Pangasinan town mayor convicted for overpriced computer

San Manuel, Pangasinan

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has convicted former San Manuel, Pangasinan Mayor Salvador Perez for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act”, for the procurement of an overpriced computer unit in 1998.

Ombudsman prosecutors established during trial that no public bidding was conducted for the procurement of one computer unit amounting to P120,000, instead the purchase was coursed through personal canvass in violation of Republic Act No. 7160, or the “Local Government Code of 1991”.

The Sandiganbayan found that procurement rules were not followed, as inconsistencies in documents showed that P120,000 was paid to Starlet Sales Center in Tondo, Manila while the Purchase Order was issued to Mobile Link Enterprises in Mandaluyong City.

Insofar as co-accused former Municipal Treasurer Juanita Apostol is concerned, her death in 2011 extinguished her criminal liability.

Perez was sentenced to suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six years and one month as minimum to eight years as maximum, with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.