Sandigan dismisses perjury case versus Neric Acosta, mom Coring
The Sandiganbayan 5th Division has dismissed the perjury charges filed against former Bukidnon First District Congressman and current Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Neric Acosta and his mother, former Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon mayor Socorro Acosta.
Sandiganbayan’s resolution says that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the charges filed against the Acostas.
The perjury case stems from the alleged unlawful transfer of P5.5 million in October 2012 from the younger Acosta’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to the Bukidnon Vegetable Producers’ Cooperative (BVPC), farmers’ cooperative owned and managed by the Acostas. The case was filed by the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman claimed that the Acostas made bogus declarations in their respective counter-affidavits where they claimed that the fund transfer has the approval of the Manolo Fortich council. Investigations allegedly showed that the council didn’t approve such resolution.
The Sandiganbayan’s ruling says that “it was not clear whether (the fund transfer) was deliberately made (by Acosta) to delude the audit officials into believing that he was able to obtain such concurrence.”
