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Rolando De La Cuesta vs. The Sandiganbayan et al.

ROLANDO P. DE LA CUESTA, PETITIONER, VS. THE SANDIGANBAYAN, FIRST DIVISION AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, RESPONDENTS. [G.R. NOS. 166305-06] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PETITIONER, VS. EDUARDO M. COJUANGCO, JR., HERMENEGILDO ** C. ZAYCO, SALVADOR ESCUDERO III, VICENTE B. VALDEPEÑAS, JR., ROLANDO P. DE LA CUESTA AND THE HON. SANDIGANBAYAN (FIRST DIVISION), RESPONDENTS. [G.R. NOS. 166487-88] REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, PETITIONER, VS. THE SANDIGANBAYAN AND EDUARDO M. COJUANGCO, JR., ROLANDO P. DE LA CUESTA, HERMINIGILDO C. ZAYCO, JOSE R. ELEAZAR, JR., FELIX V. DUEÑAS, JR., SALVADOR ESCUDERO III, AND VICENTE B. VALDEPEÑAS, JR., RESPONDENTS.

G.R. Nos. 164068-69 | 2013-11-19

EN BANC
 
D E C I S I O N

ABAD, J.:

These cases refer to a government agency’s grant of financial assistance to a private non-profit organization representing the community whose interests such agency serves.

The Facts and the Case
 
On February 9, 1995 the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) filed two separate informations against former members of the Governing Board of the Philippine Coconut Administration (PCA), including its chairman, accused Rolando P. De La Cuesta, and a member, Eduardo M. Cojuangco, Jr., before the Sandiganbayan in Criminal Cases 22017 and 22018. They were charged with granting financial assistance of P2 million...