Sandiganbayan dismisses bid to reopen Samar town cemetery case

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The anti-graft court upholds the convictions of former Hinabangan, Samar officials, and dismisses their motion to reopen the case despite claims of new developments

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the motion of former municipal officials of Hinabangan, Samar, to reopen the graft case where they were convicted for the illegal purchase in 2008 of a lot to be used for the expansion of the municipal cemetery.

In 2019, former mayor Alejandro Abarratigue, former municipal treasurer Raul Tapia, and administrative officer Analiza Bagro were convicted for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The three were sentenced to imprisonment for six to ten years, and were perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

However, they asked the Sandiganbayan to reopen the trial, claiming in their motion that a new development may convince the court to reverse its earlier decision.

In their conviction five years ago, the Sandiganbayan found them guilty for using P500,00 from the coffers of the municipal government to purchase a lot, even though that transaction did not have the needed approval or resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan.

The three appealed that the transfer of the title of the purchased lot to the name of Hinabangan and the construction of cemetery boxes were ensuing events with which they said should convince the court to change its decision.

However, the court was unfazed. A resolution by Sandiganbayan’s Third Division dated February 28, said that the decision convicting all three defendants was already final as it was already included in the Supreme Court’s Entry of Judgment on October 7, 2024.

The Sandiganbayan also said: “The transfer of the title and the construction of the cemetery boxes were never issues in the original case or on appeal. Thus, the subsequent transfer of the title into the name of the Municipality and the construction of the cemetery boxes do not change anything about the case.” – Rappler.com