THE Sandiganbayan’s First Division on Thursday convicted former Presidential Commission on Good Government chairman Camilo Sabio over the P12-million vehicle lease deals undertaken by the commission in 2007 and 2009 that it said were anomalous.
The anti-graft court found Sabio guilty of two counts of graft and ordered him imprisoned for 12 to 20 years and perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Based on the facts of the case, the PCGG and UCPB Leasing and Finance Corp. signed two contracts for the lease of four vehicles amounting to P5.4 million in 2007 and five vehicles worth P6.7 million in an unknown date.
The Sandiganbayan said the contracts were signed without a public bidding.
Former PCGG Intelligence Officer Teresita Avante-Rosal concurred that the contracts were illegal.
The Sandiganbayan ruled that Sabio acted in bad faith in signing the contracts.
The camp of Sabio said they will appeal the case.
But apart from this case, Sabio is also facing three counts of graft for embezzlement and inability to liquidate cash advances.
