BACOLOD CITY鈥擳he Sandiganbayan on Friday (Jan. 29) dismissed the graft charges against Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and two others for the alleged misuse of a P480 million rehabilitation fund.
According to the anti-graft court, the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of Degamo, provincial accountant Teodorico Reyes and former provincial treasurer Danilo Mendez.
Degamo said he was very happy that the case was dismissed.
鈥淭he decision of the Sandiganbayan is fair and true. It shows that I did not malverse any public funds,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 so happy that God has been watching over me and provided the wisdom to those who decided the case,鈥� he added.
The case, believed to be instigated by a political opponent, came after Degamo implemented projects using P480 million in public funds which he asked from the national government during the term of former President Benignno Aquino III following the onslaught of Typhoon Sendong in 2011.
The funds were used for river dikes that had helped prevent flooding in Dumaguete City and other parts of Negros Oriental.