Sandiganbayan decision on Siao expected to come out next year

By Nora Soriño
Iligan City Bureau Chief . 

Iligan City — The decision of the Sandiganbayan on the cases against this city’s lone Rep. Frederick Siao and others is expected to come out in January of next year.

This was revealed yesterday by City Information Officer Jose Pantoja.

The case, he said, is with the Sandiganbayan’s 5th division and they would have to suffer the consequences, like imprisonment should the decision be against them.

“But if it will favor them, well and good,” Pantoja added.

He said this is for “anti-graft and anti-corrupt practices” as well as “anti corrupt practices act” and adding that there is “no justice for sale now.”

To recall, in July 13, 2016, the Office of the Ombudsman slapped former city mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz and 12 others with an order of dismissal and perpetual disqualification from office  for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales held liable along with Cruz and Siao, then city officials Vice Mayor Ruderic Marzo, City Councilors Providencio Abragan, Jr., Riza Jane Magaro, Jose Zalsos, Marlene Young, Ariel Anghay, Michelle Sweet-Booc, Bayani Areola, Roy Openiano and city legal officer Eulalio Gaite.

Then city administrator Dexter Ray Sumaoy, who filed the case, said the decision stemmed from city hall’s  lease of a two-hectare property in Camague, which is owned by the Lluch family. The property is the site of a terminal for public vehicles  bound or coming from the southern areas. In 2004, a contract was drawn by Cruz and the Lluch family-owned Kiwalan  Lumber Co. for the lease of the Camague property with the approval of the then Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Siao’s camp said the decision was when  he was with the SP but now, he is with the House of Representatives.

Pantoja said there was so much abuse as the rental was for two hectares, but “only one hectare was used as terminal while the other one hectare was being leased again by another party.”

Former SP member lawyer Moises Dalisay, Jr. said the decision was “strange”  because Regencia “continued leasing the property” even when he was already mayor.