DAVAO CITY (January 9) — The Sandiganbayan has sentenced former Cabuyao, Laguna Mayor Isidro Hemedes Jr. to eight years imprisonment for holding office in a private bank while serving as City Mayor at the same time.
The anti-graft court sentenced Hemedes for being a member of the Board of Directors of Luzon Development Bank, a private bank during his term in government office.
In its 20-page ruling dated Feb. 1, 2019, the Sandiganbayan found guilty of graft, also perpetually barring him from holding public office.
The resolution stated “We find that, taken together, the law, admitted evidence and stipulations prove beyond reasonable doubt that accused is guilty of violating Section 3(h) of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019,
when he occupied the position of member of the Board of Directors of LDB (Luzon Development Bank), a private development bank, during his incumbency as city mayor of Cabuyao, Laguna,” the court said.
The Office of the Ombudsman charged Hemedes with graft before the Sandiganbayan on March 9, 2018 for allegedly illegally holding the position as member of the Board of Directors of LDB from June 30, 2007 to Feb. 5, 2014 while then serving as Cabuyao City mayor.
He pleaded “not guilty” during his arraignment on April 13, 2018.
The Sandiganbayan also noted that Hemedes’ having only seven common shares of stock in LDB does not necessarily negate the presence of the second element of graft.
The decision added, “direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction.”- Jian A. Padillo/NewsLine.ph
