The Sandiganbayan overturned its earlier decision and acquitted Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. of graft charges in relation to a P1.5-million chess tournament that was named after him and was sponsored by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).
Former LWUA officials Emmanuel Malicdem and Wilfredo Feleo were likewise cleared of the graft charge against them. In a resolution dated on Monday but released to the media on Wednesday, the antigraft court said it found that the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove that the 2010 chess tournament sponsorship needed the approval of Pichay, who was then sitting as acting chair of LWUA’s board of trustees. —NIKKA G. VALENZUELA