In a shocking turn of events that has stunned the entertainment and political world alike, former actor-turned-politician Herbert Bautista was found GUILTY of graft and is now reportedly behind bars.

Witnesses said Bautista was visibly emotional, even breaking down in tears and clinging to the prison bars after the court handed down its verdict.

The Verdict That Shook the Nation

The Sandiganbayan, the country’s anti-graft court, ruled that Bautista violated government procurement laws during his time as Mayor of Quezon City. The case stems from alleged irregularities in a multimillion-peso project, which investigators say lacked proper documentation and failed to go through the right bidding process.

“There is overwhelming evidence that the law was bypassed,” stated the court in its decision.

Bautista, long known for his calm and composed public persona, reportedly collapsed into uncontrollable sobs upon hearing the word “guilty.” Sources claim he was later escorted out of the courtroom while still crying, whispering, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The Emotional Scene Behind Bars

Moments after the verdict, photos and footage began circulating of the former mayor touching the cold steel bars, staring into space with tears streaming down his face. Supporters, friends, and former colleagues expressed shock and sadness, with many saying they never expected such a downfall for someone once considered a promising public servant.

“Herbert was always known as a clean and effective leader,” said a former city hall employee. “This is beyond heartbreaking.”

What’s Next for Herbert Bautista?

Legal experts say Bautista still has the right to appeal the verdict, but the decision has already seriously damaged his political future. His camp has yet to release an official statement, though insiders claim he plans to fight back and prove his innocence.

As Herbert Bautista now faces the consequences of a conviction that could end his public life forever, the nation is left grappling with a once-adored figure’s dramatic fall from grace — from screen idol to sobbing inmate.

Herbert Bautista continues to fight graft case, insists he is not corrupt
Former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista’s camp will file a motion for reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan after being found guilty of graft yesterday, January 20.

The actor and public servant maintained his innocence of the accusations leveled against him related to the “P32.1 million deal with Geodata Solutions Inc.” when he served as mayor of Quezon City in 2019.

According to the 7th Division of the Sandiganbayan, Herbert and former city administrator Aldrin Cuña violated Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

They were sentenced to six to 10 years in prison after being found guilty due to an anomaly in the procurement of the Online Occupational Permitting Tracking System (OOPTS) worth P32 million.

Aside from the prison sentence, they are also barred from holding government positions.

“We will definitely prepare and file a motion for reconsideration of this decision,” said Herbert’s lawyer, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina in a statement.

He said, “He did not commit any act which constitutes the offense charged. The vote is two against one — meaning there exists a cloud of doubt even among the justices who deliberated on the evidence presented in this case.”

In the 146-page resolution of the Sandiganbayan issued by Associate Justice Georgina Hidalgo, it was noted that, “the prosecution failed to prove all the necessary elements beyond a reasonable doubt to justify a conviction.”

“The evidence presented did not convincingly show that accused Bautista and Cuña exhibited manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or inexcusable negligence when they approved and released public funds to Geodata,” said Hidalgo.

“There is therefore no proof to show that accused Bautista acted with fraudulent intent when he signed the disbursement voucher,” he added. “It must be emphasized that he never personally and financially gained anything from this project. Not a single centavo went to our client’s pocket,” he said.