A FORMER Department of Public Works and Highways employee who was initially charged with graft and estafa through falsification of public documents over bogus vehicle repair transactions pleaded guilty to less serious charges as part of a deal with prosecutors.
Edgar Agbunag pleaded guilty to 20 counts of estafa and 20 counts of solicitation or acceptance of gifts in violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and will still get prison time.
Agbunag was one of several DPWH employees charged in connection with payments for bogus repair works on service vehicles of the DPWH in 2001.
His co-accused were DPWH project manager Nonito Fano, assistant director Florendo Arias, director Burt Favorito, Motorpool Section chief Maximo Borje Jr., 12 other rank-and-file employees and private defendant Victoria Maniego Go, according to abogado.ph
Agbunag was arrested in connection with the charges in January this year. At the time of his arrest, he was already 66 years old and did not have a job, which was why he was unable to post bail set at P648,000.
The court later reduced the bail to P40,000.
He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment but said he might be open to a plea bargain deal.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor informed the Sandiganbayan on September 27 that the Ombudsman approved Agbunag’s plea bargain offer.
Agbunag was re-arraigned on Wednesday. He withdrew his earlier plea and pleaded guilty to the less serious offenses.
He was sentenced to one year imprisonment for each count of solicitation or acceptance of gifts, and three months and 11 days for each count of estafa.
The court also said he was civilly liable for P494,500 based on the bogus payments.
