Ex-QC Mayor Herbert Bautista Faces 6-10 Years in Prison for Graft

Former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista and his ex-city administrator Aldrin Cuña have been convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan in connection with a questionable 2019 procurement of an Online Occupational Permitting and Tracking System (OOPTS). The anti-graft court handed down the decision on January 20, sentencing both officials to six to 10 years in prison and imposing a lifetime ban from holding public office.

Court’s Decision and Case Details

The Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division found Bautista and Cuña guilty of violating Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In its 146-page decision, the court highlighted that the accused demonstrated partiality by awarding a P32.1-million contract to Geodata Solutions Inc. without proper authorization from the Quezon City Council.

“They are each sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six years and one month as minimum to 10 years as maximum. Additionally, said accused are sentenced to suffer perpetual disqualification to hold office,” the court stated.

The contract with Geodata Solutions was intended to digitize the application and tracking of occupational permits, streamlining what had been a manual process that required applicants to visit City Hall. However, the Office of the Ombudsman argued that the project lacked a city ordinance to authorize it and that there was insufficient proof the system was ever delivered.

Despite the gravity of the offense, the court did not impose fines on Bautista and Cuña. The P32.1 million involved had already been paid to the private firm and was deemed irrecoverable. Geodata Solutions was not named as a respondent in the case.

Bautista’s Response

During his May 2023 arraignment, Bautista described the charges as politically motivated, claiming, “I devoted myself to Quezon City for 34 years, and then because of politics, we have this [case].” However, he did not identify the individuals allegedly responsible for the supposed political agenda against him.

Motions Denied

Bautista had filed a motion to dismiss the graft charges, asserting that the prosecution’s evidence was weak. The Sandiganbayan denied the motion, stating it lacked merit. A subsequent motion for reconsideration was also rejected, with the court emphasizing that these motions served only to delay proceedings.

Separate Graft Case Pending

In addition to this case, Bautista and Cuña are facing a separate graft charge before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division. The case involves a P25.34-million payment to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia Inc. for a solar power system. The company allegedly failed to secure a required net metering system from Meralco before receiving payment.

While no ruling has been issued in the second case, Cuña was suspended for 90 days in April 2024 from his role as executive vice president of the National Defense College of the Philippines due to the pending allegations.

What’s Next?

Bautista and Cuña have the option to appeal the Sandiganbayan’s decision to the Supreme Court. However, their conviction underscores the stringent measures against corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which aims to ensure accountability among public officials.

This conviction serves as a reminder of the legal and ethical standards required in public service, reinforcing the importance of transparency and proper authorization in government contracts.