Ex-Batangas university president gets 10-year jail time for illegal collection of internet fees

The former president of Batangas State University (BSU) was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment over anomalous collection of internet fees from students.

In a resolution recently promulgated by the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division, former BSU president Ernesto De Chavez was found "guilty beyond reasonable doubt" of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

He was sentenced to minimum of six years to a maximum of ten years of imprisonment and was ordered perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Meanwhile the case against De Chavez' co-accused Rolando Lontok, Jr., former BSU vice president for academic affairs, was ordered indefinitely archived as he remains at large.

The two former university officials were also sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2012 for conspiring to have students rent graduation caps and gowns from a shop owned by one of them.

In its present decision, the antigraft court said the prosecution was able to present sufficient evidence that proved that De Chavez, in conspiracy with Lontok, collected P550 from each student as school internet fee from years 2000 to 2002.

The court said several witnesses presented by the prosecution were unanimous in saying that the collection of the internet fee was not approved and sanctioned by the school board and was not supported with official receipts.

The court also gave weight on the testimonies of some bank officials 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 ruling read. — APG, GMA News