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By JIGGER J. JERUSALEM
Correspondent .

POLICE arrested a former mayor in Camiguin who was convicted of graft on Wednesday night, and he would be brought to Quezon City and handed over to the Sandiganbayan.

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The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday said businessman and former Mahinog town mayor Alex Jajalla was arrested based on a warrant of arrest issued by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, chairperson of the Sandiganbayan’s 7th Division.

Maj. Napoleon Carpio, CIDG deputy director for northern Mindanao, said the 62-year-old Jajalla was convicted by the Sandiganbayan for violation of Sec. 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. He was convicted just this Sept. 9.

Section 3(e) states it is considered unlawful for a public official to cause “any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.”

Carpio said the ex-mayor was slapped with a six-year imprisonment sentence by the anti-graft court.

According to records, Jajalla committed a violation when he approved the six-month rehabilitation leave with pay of his brother Misael, who was his security aide, from July to December 2008 when he was the mayor of Mahinog.

The Office of the Ombudsman pointed out that Jajalla’s brother was not qualified for such leave because the injuries he suffered was not due to the performance of his official duties.

The anti-graft court said Misael was able to receive compensation during the six-month period amounting to P69,366 thereby causing undue injury to the government.

Carpio said Jajalla told the CIDG that he was ready to serve the sentence.

He said Jajalla went through the documentation process at the CIDG-10 headquarters where his fingerprints and mugshots were taken.

“He is in good shape,” Carpio said, referring to the ex-mayor’s state of health.

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