The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division ordered the preventive suspension of Tarlac Rep. Noel Rivera in connection with his two graft cases stemming from his alleged involvement in a construction firm that secured government contracts.
In handing down the 90-day suspension order, the anti-graft court noted that suspension is mandatory for public officers charged with a valid information involving a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
It said there is no question about the validity of the two informations filed against Rivera.
“The argument as to the validity of the Information raised by accused Rivera in his instant Comment are merely substantial reiterations of those in his previous Motions to Quash. The Court already considered the same and found them to be without merit when it denied the said Motions to Quash in the said Resolutions,” it said.
In seeking to stop his suspension, Rivera had contended that the facts as alleged did not show his direct intervention in a government contract.
He also said there is no need to suspend him because he has divested Tarlac 3-G Construction and Development Corp., which means no more malfeasance needs to be prevented.
One of Rivera’s graft cases accuses him of owning a controlling stake in Tarlac 3-G that won the P94.86 million contract for a road project in San Narciso, Zambales in 2023.
The other graft case involves a P14.35 million contract for the repair and upgrading of the Tarlac-Guimba Road via Victoria in Tarlac province in 2024.
The prosecution alleged that Rivera owned 54,842,500 shares in Tarlac 3-G equivalent to 54.84 percent of the construction firm, while his wife controls another 45.09 percent.
Rivera first joined the House of Representatives in 2022 and is currently serving his second term as Tarlac representative.