Sandiganbayan acquits ex-Makati mayor of graft

MANILA—The Sandiganbayan on Thursday acquitted former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay of graft in connection with the purchase of allegedly overpriced furniture for the city hall.

The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division also acquitted General Services Department chief Ernesto Aspillaga and city government official Vivian Edna Edurise.

The case arose from the purchase of PHP13.25-million worth of office furniture for the Makati City Hall from December 1999 to February 2000.

The procurement was allegedly overpriced by PHP3.6 million.

The Sandiganbayan said that the prosecution failed to establish the elements of the graft case.