Jimenez to plea-bargain with US authorities — Lawyer

Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez, who is facing charges of making illegal election campaign contributions, mail fraud and tax evasion in Miami, Florida, will most likely strike a plea-bargain deal with US prosecutors.

Jimenez’s lawyer Eduardo Escueta revealed the plan as the US State Department hailed the Manila congressman’s extradition which took two years to accomplish.

"Yes, he will consider plea bargaining," Escueta said, echoing what Jimenez told reporters on Thursday night before taking his long flight to Miami.

Jimenez told reporters he is open to the plea bargaining process, under which an accused admits his guilt in exchange for a lighter punishment.

He claimed his alleged offenses are not serious and the Miami court hearing them can grant him bail.

In Washington DC, the US State Department issued a statement hailing Jimenez’s exrtradition.

"It is a high priority case for the US, the statement read., underlining Manila’s "strong collaboration" with Washington on the case.

"The United States has been seeking his extradition since 1999. We are pleased that he was extradited," it read. "No one is above the law."

Jimenez also said the controversies preceding his return to Florida could have been avoided had the Department of Justice (DOJ) supported the offer claimed to have made to US prosecutors that he be allowed to go back to Miami on his own volition.

He showed reporters copies of his offer made shortly after Congress convened in July last year and the answer of American authorities.

"Secretary (on leave Hernando) Perez wanted to see me in jail here (in the Philippines)," he said. Jimenez accused Perez of plunder for allegedly extorting $2 million from him. The DOJ chief has denied the accusation.

Jimenez said US prosecutors turned down his offer because the DOJ informed them that the petition for his extradition had already been filed in court, and that he would be extradited soon.

He said acting Justice Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez, the chief prosecutor in the extradition case, was furnished a copy of the letter-answer of US authorities.

But both Perez and Gutierrez have denied knowing of the offer.

A few days after going on leave last month, Perez told ABS-CBN’s early evening news program that he would have gladly supported it.

"Even now, if he wants to walk to the US Embassy, I will accompany him and move for the dropping of the extradition case against him," he said.

Meanwhile, Jimenez is expected to arrive in Miami Sunday (US time) and attend a bail hearing Monday.

His two companions, Representatives Willie Buyson Villarama of Bulacan and Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur, have been there since Saturday.

They were separated from Jimenez in Guam on Friday morning (Manila time) after three agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation escorting the Manila congressman brought him to nearby Saipan.– With AFP