THE Sandiganbayan has convicted former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista and his former city administrator Aldrin Cuña of graft in connection with the 2019 procurement of an Online Occupational Permitting Tracking System (OOPTS).
In a 32-page decision, the anti-graft court sentenced both Bautista and Cuña to six to 10 years in prison.
They have also been perpetually disqualified from holding public office as a result of their conviction.
The case stemmed from the procurement of the OOPTS project, which involved public funds amounting to ₱32 million.
However, the court did not order Bautista and Cuña to pay fines, as the funds were already received by the private firm involved in the transaction, which was not a party to the case.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the government’s commitment to addressing corruption in public office.
Both Bautista and Cuña have yet to issue statements on the verdict.