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Former BSU officials face 10 years imprisonment for students’ caps and gowns
20 February 2012

          The Office of the Ombudsman successfully prosecuted the graft case filed against two former officials of the Batangas State University before the Sandiganbayan.

          In a 31-page Decision, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division found Ernesto de Chavez, then President, and Rolando Lontoc, Sr., then Vice-President for Academic Affairs, both of the BSU, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Violation of Section 3 (e) in relation to Section 3(h) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

          They were both sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of six years and one month to ten years imprisonment, and to suffer perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

          The case stemmed from the Information filed against them alleging that the two former BSU officials “utilized their respective positions at BSU and directed the graduating BSU students to rent caps and gowns solely from their own cap-and-gown-rental business” in 2001.

          During trial, Assistant Special Prosecutor III Kristine Jennifer Carreon presented Nora Magnaye, currently  BSU President, who testified that Lontoc “instructed her to collect the rentals for the caps and gowns in the amount of P140 per student. Lontoc told her that the rental was for the President who is his brother-in-law.”

          In its Decision, the Sandiganbayan said that “the accused used their official positions, influence and standing in BSU to corner the market for the rental of caps and gowns when they ordered Magnaye to secure the caps and gowns exclusively from De Chavez. The students had to pay through their Class Treasurers and had to receive the caps and gowns from their Class Advisers. Thus, the students did not actually have a choice on the matter.”

          It further stated that as President and Vice-President for Academic Affairs of a State University, the two former officials were not authorized to oblige their subordinates to secure the caps and gowns from De Chavez.

          The anti-graft court added that the accused gained unwarranted benefits when they exerted their influence over their subordinates and the students, at the expense of the BSU students.

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