The Sandiganbayan has absolved ex-Iloilo lawmaker, now Sonshine Media Network Inc.’s legal counsel, Rolex Suplico, of graft charges in relation to the alleged misuse of his P15-million pork barrel fund back in 2007.

Suplico escaped criminal liability after the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division handed down a 37-page decision on 12 January, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

In 2017, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict him along with Antonio Ortiz, the director general of the now defunct Technology Resource Center, and Alfredo Ronquillo, president of AARON Foundation Philippines Inc., of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or RA 3019.

They were formally charged before the Sandiganbayan in 2018.

Graft probers said they had conspired with one another in giving AFPI unwarranted benefits and preference in the implementation of Suplico’s PDAF-funded livelihood and development projects in the 5th district of Iloilo in 2007 despite several irregularities.

Court records showed that Suplico and Ortiz endorsed the non-government organization to carry out the projects.

The prosecution found that of the P15-million pork barrel fund, P14,700,000 was released to AFPI, notwithstanding the foundation’s ineligibility to undertake the projects due to lack of business at the time and dubious existence.           

The case against Ortiz was ordered archived as he remains at large, while Ronquillo’s was dismissed owing to his death before the trial of the case had begun.

In clearing Suplico, the court found insufficient evidence to indicate that the ex-solon violated the graft law.

“In sum, the Court finds that the prosecution failed to establish conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, accused Suplico is liable only for the consequences of his own acts, which are insufficient to establish the second and third elements of violation of Section 3(e) of the anti-graft law under the present charge,” the court said.

Moreover, the Sandiganbayan found the totality of the evidence insufficient to hold that Suplico acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence.

According to the court, the screening of the NGO falls under TRC’s jurisdiction; thus, choosing AFPI as the project partner despite its ineligibility “could not be imputed to accused Suplico.”