THE Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former president of Batangas State University to a jail term of six years to 10 years, and meted the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from government service for illegal collection of Internet fees from students in 2000 to 2002.
The Second Division found Former BSU president Ernesto de Chavez guilty of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
De Chavez and a co-accused —Rolando Lontok Jr.—unlawfully collected P550 from each student as school Internet fee.
Ombudsman prosecutors presented witnesses who testified that the fee collection was not sanctioned by the school board and was not supported with official receipts.
The witnesses also testified that the collected fees were deposited in the personal bank accounts of De Chavez and Lontok.
“The system of collection and disbursement of expenses designed by the accused also gave them unwarranted benefit, allowing them to spend the Internet fund [totaling close to P500,000.00] as they please, since it would no longer be subjected to the usual procedure of procurement and accounting required for public funds,” the resolution read.
“The case against co-accused Lontok, who remains at-large, was archived pending his arrest,” the Office of the Ombudsman’s statement read.