Absuwelto sa kasong paglabag sa Revised Penal Code ang dalawang dating opisyal ng Philippine National Police (PNP) matapos ibasura ng Sandiganbayan ang reklamong nag-ugat pa noong 2008.
Batay sa desisyon, sinabi ng korte na bigo ang prosekusyon na mapatunayang guilty beyond reasonable doubt sina dating PNP comptroller Eliseo Dela Paz at Romeo Tapucar Ricardo na dating direktor ng PNP Directorate for Plans.
Nag-ugat ang reklamo sa dalawa nang akusahan si Dela Paz nang pag-abuso sa kanyang posisyon matapos umattend sa apat na araw ng General Assembly ng INTERPOL mula October 7 hanggang 11, 2008.
Nakipagsabwatan daw ito kay Ricardo para irekomenda kay dating PNP chief Avelino Razon ang pagkakasama ni Dela Paz sa delegasyon.
Pero lumalabas na hindi nilabag ni Dela Paz ang batas dahil October 9 ng parehong taon siya umabot sa compulsary retirement ng PNP na 56-years old.
Nabatid din na inaprubahan ni dating Interior Sec. Ronald Puno at Avelino ang travel order ni Dela Paz.
“Nothing more. Such evidence falls short of the required quantum of proof for criminal liability. It does not prove that the accused came into agreement to commit the crime charged and thereafter decided to commit it,” ayon sa korte.
“Neither was there any proof that either accused unduly influenced the approving authorities to include accused Dela Paz as one of the participants in the conference, or acted in concert to do so. In fact, there is no evidence that accused Dela Paz even applied for a slot in the delegation,” dagdag ng anti-graft court.
“Both accused may have erred or disregarded certain policies or guidelines of the PNP for which they could have been administratively dealt with. Their acts, however, do not make them criminally liable.”
Ipinare-release na ngayon ng korte ang cash bonds na nakahain sa dalawa, maging ang hold departure order sa kanila.
