Sandiganbayan enters not guilty plea for ex-Bauan mayor in graft case

The Sandiganbayan on Tuesday entered a not guilty plea for former Bauan, Batangas Mayor Ryanh Dolor after he refused to enter a plea during his arraignment for a graft case involving the alleged irregular privatization of the town’s waterworks system.

During the arraignment before the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division, the clerk of court read the Information containing the formal charges against Dolor.

Dolor, who appeared personally, refused to enter a plea.

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Associate Justice Lorifel Lacap-Pahimna, chair of the Seventh Division, then entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

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The graft case stemmed from alleged irregularities in the privatization of the Bauan Waterworks System (BWS).

Aquadata Water Services, a private water utility provider, won the contract to privatize the system.

The House committee on public accounts, which investigated the matter, cited a Commission on Audit report that found the privatization resulted in a “grossly disadvantageous revenue-sharing arrangement.”

Under the deal, Aquadata received 95% of net revenues while the municipality retained only 5%, resulting in substantial financial losses for the local government, according to the committee.

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The House panel had earlier cited Dolor in contempt for snubbing its investigation and ordered his detention.