By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki Former Capiz Governor Vicente Bediones Bermejo has decided to enter a guilty plea for a breach of conduct charge instead of graft before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division. Because of his conviction, he was sentenced to pay a fine amounting to P5,000. Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN) Bermejo was initially slapped with violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, due to the irregular purchase of four vehicles back in June 12, 2007. The purchase, done via public auction, was for four used vehicles from Philippine Pan Subic Ventures Inc. These are three units of Mitsubishi Pajero Wagon and one unit of Isuzu Elf Manlift Truck in the total amount of P1,950,800. Bermejo was faulted for not conducting public bidding for the purchase of the vehicles, which was in violation of the procedures of R.A. 9184. During his arraignment on May 11, 2018, Bermejo entered a "Not Guilty" plea. However, a Joint Motion to Approve Plea Bargaining Agreement was issued on January 10 this year. Considering the lack of documents pertaining to the acquisition of the vehicles, both the prosecution and the complainants moved that Bermejo plead guilty instead to a violation of Section 7(a) of R.A. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials. "When queried, the accused and his counsel informed the Court that the accused fully understood the nature and consequences of his entering a plea of guilty to the lesser offense of violation of Section 7(a) of R.A. 6713," the decision read. The four-page decision was penned by Sixth Division Chairperson Sarah Jane Fernandez with the concurrences of Associate Justices Karl Miranda and Kevin Narce Vivero.