Former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista and former city administrator Aldrin Cuña is facing prison sentence and lifetime ban from public office after being convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan in connection with a P32.1 million IT project during Bautista’s administration.
A report by Philstar.com quoted the 146-page decision dated January 20, stating the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division has found Bautista and Cuña guilty of violating Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“They are each sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six years and one month as minimum to 10 years as maximum. Additionally, said accused are sentenced to suffer perpetual disqualification to hold office,” the decision stated.
According to the news outlet, the case involves a 2019 procurement deal with Geodata Solutions Inc. for an Online Permitting Tracking System designed to digitize and streamline the process for occupational permits in Quezon City.
The project aimed to replace long queues at City Hall with an efficient, fully digital application and payment process. However, the Office of the Ombudsman argued that the project lacked the necessary authorization through a city ordinance and that there was insufficient evidence that the system was delivered.
The court found that Bautista and Cuña violated provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits officials from granting undue benefits or special treatment to private parties.
The Sandiganbayan ruled out civil liability or fines for Bautista and Cuña since the P32.1 million payment to Geodata Solutions was deemed unrecoverable. Notably, Geodata Solutions was not included as a respondent in the case.
Bautista had filed motions to dismiss the graft charges, claiming weak evidence, but these were denied by the court for lack of merit. The court also criticized the motions for delaying the proceedings, asserting that sufficient evidence supported the charges.
Bautista and Cuña are also facing a separate graft case before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division. This case involves a P25.34 million payment to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia Inc. for a solar power system, despite the company’s failure to secure a net metering system from Manila Electric Company (Meralco).
In April 2024, Cuña was suspended for 90 days from his role as executive vice president of the National Defense College of the Philippines due to this ongoing case.
Bautista and Cuña may reportedly appeal the Sandiganbayan’s decision to the Supreme Court.
