By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division recently acquitted Cauayan Mayor Johnrey Tabujara, who was charged in violation of Section 3 of RA 3019, or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which pertains to acts of corruption by public officials.

In a decision, dated September 7, 2018, Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta ruled: “The prosecution has failed to establish the guilt of the accused by proof beyond reasonable doubt.”

The case was brought forward by May Joy Magbanua, who served as a municipal health office nurse in 2010, claiming her transfer to from Cauayan District Hospital to the town’s Barangay Talacdan, which was going through a dengue outbreak at the time, was unwarranted and appealed the matter to the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

While awaiting her appeal, she claims Tabujara refused to halt her transfer and filed a complaint against the mayor.

Following the decision, the hold departure order against the mayor, issued in 2016, was lifted, along with the release of his P50,000 cash bond./DGB, WDJ