Former Quezon City administrator Aldrin Cuña entered a plea of not guilty on Monday in relation to a graft charge filed against him. The charge alleges that Cuña, in conspiracy with former QC mayor Herbert Bautista, caused undue injury to the government in the amount of approximately P25.3 million.
The arraignment of Cuña took place on Monday morning, while Bautista’s arraignment is scheduled for January 19, 2024.
According to the charge sheet filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, on June 27, 2019, Bautista and Cuña, in conspiracy with each other, allegedly caused undue injury to the government and conferred unwarranted benefits to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia, Inc. (Cygnet). This was supposedly done by facilitating and approving the release of public funds as full payment for the implementation of a project called “Supply and Installation of Solar Power System and Waterproofing Works for Civic Center Building F”.
The Ombudsman further alleged that Cuña issued an undated certificate of acceptance, and Bautista signed Box C of a disbursement voucher (DV) dated June 27, 2019.
Additionally, the Ombudsman claimed that Cygnet was not entitled to the said amount because it failed to apply for and secure a Net Metering System from Meralco.
In a resolution dated June 7, 2023, the anti-graft court denied Bautista’s motion to quash the charge sheet. The court stated that Bautista’s argument, which maintained that signing the DV and approving the payment to Cygnet did not imply favoritism towards the company, did not hold weight. The court found the charge sheet to be sufficient in describing the alleged crime.
The court also emphasized that the issues raised by Bautista were extrinsic and would require evidence best suited for a full-blown trial. Therefore, these matters could not be considered when assessing the sufficiency of the charge sheet.
In a resolution dated July 25, 2023, the court also denied Cuña’s motion to quash. Cuña argued that signing the certificate of acceptance alone did not constitute a crime. He further claimed that he relied in good faith on the Acceptance and Inspection Report before signing the certificate.
The court, in denying Cuña’s motion, reiterated that the presence or absence of elements of the crime charged is an evidentiary matter and should be addressed during a full-blown trial on the merits.
These developments mark the progression of the graft case against Cuña and Bautista. As the legal proceedings unfold, it will be crucial to closely monitor the evidence presented and the arguments made by both the prosecution and the defense.
It is important to remember that the accused parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The ultimate decision rests with the court, which will thoroughly examine the evidence and apply the relevant laws to determine the outcome of the case.
As this case proceeds, it serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding transparency and accountability in public office. The fight against corruption requires a strong commitment from both the government and the citizens to ensure that those entrusted with power act in the best interest of the people they serve.
Only through a fair and impartial judicial process can justice be served, and the truth behind the allegations be revealed.
Source: The Manila Times
