THE Sandiganbayan has turned down ex-Quezon City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista’s omnibus motion to dismiss the P32.2-million graft case filed against him over the procurement of an online occupational permitting and tracking system.
In a resolution dated April 26, the anti-graft court ruled that the allegations by graft probers against Bautista were sufficient to hold him for trial. It also dismissed his claims that his constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated.
The Sandiganbayan stated that Bautista’s assertions were inappropriate in a motion to quash and should be best addressed in a full-blown trial.
The case stemmed from an alleged irregular contract entered into by Bautista and former city administrator Aldrin Cuña three days before Bautista stepped down as mayor in 2019, causing undue injury to Quezon City.
The contract with Geodata Solutions Inc. allegedly approved by Bautista and Cuña under a questionable bidding process, cost P32.108 million and the payment to Geodata, a supplier of information communication technology system, was not covered by an ordinance, and with no complete delivery.
The ruling was penned by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Georgina Hidalgo.
