Supreme Court upholds graft conviction of ex-Siquijor mayor, four others

The Supreme Court's Second Division has upheld the graft conviction of former Lazi town Mayor Orville Fua and four others in a case involving the irregular procurement of fertilizers valued at over P4.9 million in 2004. The high court's decision was promulgated on January 22.

The case centered on the municipality's procurement practices for agricultural inputs nearly two decades ago. The Supreme Court determined that the transaction violated standard procurement procedures and constituted graft, holding the former mayor and his co-accused accountable for their roles in the irregular transaction.

The affirmation of the conviction marks the conclusion of a lengthy legal process that began with the initial charges filed against the former municipal officials. The Supreme Court's action underscores the judiciary's commitment to addressing corruption allegations involving local government officials, particularly those involving substantial public funds.

Lazi is a municipality in Siquijor province, located in the Visayas region. The case reflects ongoing efforts to prosecute graft cases involving local government employees and officials accused of mismanaging public resources.