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[av_heading heading=’Ex-AklanTESDA chief, wife guilty of graft, corruption’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY BOY RYAN ZABAL and ADRIAN STEWART CO
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February 6, 2018
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KALIBO, Aklan – The Sandiganbayan has found guilty the former director of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) in Aklan and his wife of graft and corrupt practices.
The anti-graft court, in its 16-page decision promulgated on Jan. 12, 2018, sentenced Edwin Villanueva and wife Nidafor violating Section 3 (d) of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Section 3 (d) of RA 3019 states that it is unlawful for any public officer or employee to accept or have any member of his family accept employment in a private enterprise which has pending official business with him during the pendency thereof or within one year after its termination.
Sandiganbayanassociate justice Geraldine Faith Econg penned the decision with associate justices EfrenDela Cruz and Edgardo Caldona’sconcurrence.
The Villanuevas were sentenced of indeterminate imprisonment for six years and one month (minimum) to 10 years (maximum) on top of their perpetual disqualification from holding public office, the decision stated.
Edwin was assigned as TESDA-Aklan director on Oct. 26, 2006. He was dismissed from service in 2012.
Nida, on the other hand, was one of the incorporators of RaybornAgsam Center for Education (RACE), according to records filed at the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2010.
RACE is a TESDA-accredited competency assessment center located in Barangay Linabuan Norte in this capital town.
Nida worked with RACE as the in-house assessor for Food and Beverages NCII, Household Services NCII and Housekeeping NCII during from June 2010 to June 2012.
Nida received P1,000 compensation monthly during the period.
According to Sandiganbayan, Nida’s acceptance to work with RACE made Edwin liable for violating RA 3019.
It added that Nida’s agreement to be RACE’s incorporator/stockholder and member of the Board of Directors and Edwin’s subsequent recommendation to approve RACE’s accreditation to SEC showed conspiracy between the married couple.
Sandiganbayan issued on Sept. 5, 2014 a hold departure order against Edwin and Nida. On Sept. 17 in the same year, the court issued a warrant of arrest against them.
On July 20, 2016, the Villanuevas posted bail before the Regional Trial Court in Iloilo City and were arraigned on Nov. 24, 2016. The couple pleaded not guilty. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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