Sandigan admits evidence vs Bautista

The Sandiganbayan has admitted all the documentary evidence presented by the Office of the Ombudsman's prosecution team against former Quezon City mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista and former city administrator Aldrin Cuña in connection with the allegedly anomalous P32million online occupational permitting and tracking system project in 2019.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

In a minute resolution dated Feb. 7, the court's Seventh Division ruled to admit all the documentary exhibits offered by the prosecution panel despite the objections of Bautista and Cuña.

"Their objections heavily assail the materiality and probative value, rather than the admissibility, of the exhibits in question. It is evident that at the formal offer stage, the only issue presented is the admissibility of evidence, not its evidentiary weight," the Seventh Division said.

Among the prosecution's exhibits admitted by the Seventh Division were documents from the Commission on Audit - Audit Group M of Quezon City, as well as those from the city business permits and licensing department and the city council.