Ex-lawmakers want raps junked for trial delay
Two former lawmakers have sought the dismissal of the charges filed against them before the Sandiganbayan, citing the inordinate delay in the investigation of the cases.
In an 11-page motion, former Iloilo second district congresswoman Judy Syjuco said the Office of the Ombudsman violated her constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases when it took more than 10 years to finish the investigation.
Former provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada filed the complaint before the ombudsman in August 2006, but it was only on Oct. 18, 2016 when Syjuco was indicted.
Syjuco and his co-accused, including former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications, were charged with graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents over the purchase of 1,582 units of Nokia 1100 cell phones using Syjuco’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.
The ombudsman said P5.9 million was disbursed without public bidding. The mobile phones were not delivered to its intended beneficiaries, the court said.
In a 52-page motion, former Ilocos Sur first district congressman Salacnib Baterina said the ombudsman took more than three years to resolve the complaint against him in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Baterina said the ombudsman also abused its prosecutorial powers when it filed direct bribery and three counts of malversation without giving him the chance to file a counter-affidavit.
Based on the complaints, Baterina allocated portions of his PDAF to two fake foundations owned by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles for the supposed implementation of livelihood projects. Graft probers said none of the projects were implemented.
The Sandiganbayan dismissed more than 20 cases for violation of the respondents’ constitutional right to speedy trial. The Supreme Court has yet to come up with a decision on the petition of the ombudsman to stop the anti-graft court from dismissing cases over the inordinate delay doctrine.