The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Mayor Cristeta C. Reyes of Malvar, Batangas and two other municipal officials of graft charges in the purchase of a P6.65 million lot from Reyes’ children.

Also acquitted by the court’s fourth division were Municipal Treasurer Yolanda F. Cabiscuelas and Municipal Budget Officer Jeanette C. Fruelda.

In 2010, the Malvar municipal government paid P6.65 million to Reyes’ children for a 5,000-square-meter lot to be used for the construction of a national high school building.

The prosecution alleged that Reyes intervened in her official capacity as mayor in the transaction of which she had direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest.

In its decision, the anti-graft court found no legal basis to pin all the accused down for the alleged damage caused to the government, and even noted that the property was found to be suitable and compliant with the minimum requirements in establishing a national high school.

"While it is not disputed that the municipality of Malvar paid the amount of P6,650,000 to accused Reyes' children, it must be noted that title over the 5,000 square meter lot was eventually transferred in the name of the municipality of Malvar, as evidenced by TCT Nos. T-143966 and T-143968," the decision stated.

In this case, the court noted that the registered owners initially did not plan on selling a portion of their property to the municipality. It also said that Accused Reyes also refused to intervene in the transaction, and the eventual sale only took place after the rejection of the Department of Education (DepEd) of the 2,000-square meter parcel of land donated by the barangay.

The court pointed out that the fact that accused Reyes and the landowners are related to each other does not automatically mean the former had financial or pecuniary interest in the transaction.

"It is also worth highlighting that accused Reyes' children have all attained the age of majority at the time the Deed was executed. Parental authority over their person and property had already terminated, making them qualified and responsible for all acts of civil life, including disposition of real property owned by them," the decision also stated.

Associate Justice Lorifel L. Pahimna wrote the 36-page decision with the concurrence of Fourth Division Chairperson Michael Frederick L. Musngi and Associate Justice Bayani H. Jacinto.