MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) upheld the acquittal of three former STRADCOM officials in the 2010 forcible takeover of the company’s compound, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they directly ordered or induced violence against security guards.
In a 14-page decision promulgated July 31, 2026, the CA’s 14th Division dismissed the petition challenging the acquittal of Aderito Z. Yujuico, Bonifacio C. Sumbilla and Rodolfo A. Millare, saying the prosecution failed to prove that they directly induced the forcible displacement of security guards.
The case stemmed from a violent Dec. 9, 2010 takeover of the STRADCOM premises inside the Land Transportation Office (LTO) compound along East Avenue in Quezon City.
At the time, STRADCOM was the private information-technology provider operating and maintaining the LTO’s computerized systems. Its facilities housed critical infrastructure for the agency’s public services.
The dispute erupted amid a bitter corporate power struggle between rival groups claiming control of STRADCOM.
Prosecutors said armed personnel wearing uniforms of Unilateral Security Agency entered the compound, disarmed and overpowered guards from Butler Security and Investigation Agency, and forcibly removed them from their posts.
The takeover allegedly prevented STRADCOM employees from freely entering or leaving the facility and kept technicians responsible for the LTO database outside. The disruption temporarily affected the processing of LTO transactions.
The occupation eventually ended after then Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose P. de Jesus ordered the group evicted from the premises.
The Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) initially convicted Yujuico, Sumbilla and Millare of grave coercion, sentencing each to imprisonment and a fine.
The MTC treated them as principals by direct inducement, pointing among other things to Sumbilla’s execution of a security contract with Unilateral and the presence of the three men inside the compound during the takeover.
But the Regional Trial Court (RTC) reversed the convictions in 2020, finding that the prosecution failed to establish that the three had ordered, instigated or induced the forcible acts committed against the Butler guards.
Petitioner challenged the acquittal before the CA, arguing that the evidence—taken together—showed the men’s active participation in the takeover.
The prosecution cited Sumbilla’s engagement of Unilateral, the men’s presence inside the compound, CCTV footage and testimony that Yujuico was seen pointing toward Unilateral guards “as if commanding them.”
The Office of the Solicitor General likewise argued that these circumstances, together with an earlier attempt to gain control of the premises, showed a deliberate and coordinated effort to seize STRADCOM.
The CA, however, said the evidence fell short of the stringent standard required to establish direct inducement.
