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Sandiganbayan (File photo) MANILA - The Sandiganbayan has acquitted a former mayor in Antique accused of ordering the unauthorized bulldozing and removal of 245 coconut trees in 2014. In a 19-page decision dated October 22, the Sandiganbayan 5th Division acquitted then-mayor of Caluya town and now vice mayor, Genevive Lim-Reyes, for alleged violations of Republic Acts 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and 8048 (Coconut Preservation Act). Caluya covers Semirara Island, where two of the country's primary sources of coal, the Panian and the now-closed Unong mines, are located. Witnesses for Lim-Reyes, led by Bernardo Magdaug, president of the Sabang Poocan Farmers Fishermen Association, testified that the coconut trees shown in photos submitted by the prosecution, were planted by a certain Eliodoro Ysug on the adjacent Lot 912, and not on the five-hectare relocation site being complained by Juliet Ramos. Ramos claimed that the municipal government planted coconut trees on th ....