THE Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista of graft charges over the P25-million payment to Cygnet Energy Power Asia Inc. for a solar power system and waterproofing works at a city-owned building in 2019.
In a ruling penned by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, the court said prosecutors failed to prove Bautista’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The hold departure order issued against the former mayor has also been lifted.
Meanwhile, former QC administrator Aldrin Cuña was found guilty of graft and sentenced to six to eight years imprisonment.
He was also perpetually barred from holding public office and will no longer be entitled to retirement benefits.
Bautista and Cuña were previously convicted in connection with an anomalous P32-million process automation system for the Quezon City Hall.
