G.R. No. 254639 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. AMELIA R. DE PANO, ANGELITO A. RODRIGUEZ, NOEL G. JIMENEZ, AND JOSE JOEL B. BALDEO,* ACCUSED, ANGELITO A. RODRIGUEZ, NOEL G. JIMENEZ, ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered as follows: Accused NOEL G. JIMENEZ and ANGELITO RODRIGUEZ are found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, and are sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) month, as minimum, up to ten (10) years, as maximum, with accessory penalty of loss of retirement or gratuity benefits under the law; Accused AMELIA R. DE PANO is hereby ACQUITTED for failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Considering that her acquittal is based on reasonable doubt and that the act or omission from which the civil liability arises exists, civil liability may likewise be assessed against accused De Pano. By way of civil liability, accused De Pano, Rodriguez, and Jimenez are hereby ordered jointly and severally to indemnify the Provincial Government of Bataan, the sum of P253,725.00 representing the amount wrongfully disbursed to Baldeo Construction. Let the hold-departure order against accused De Pano by reason of this case be lifted and set aside, and her bond released, subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures. SO ORDERED.