Nani arraigned on 2 criminal charges May 21

MANILA, Philippines – Former justice secretary Hernando Perez will be arraigned on May 21 on two criminal charges linked to the $2-million extortion case filed against him by former Manila representative Mark Jimenez.

The Sandiganbayan fourth division ordered Perez to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. to enter his plea on charges of violating Republic Act 6713, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees, and section 7 of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Perez has already been notified about the arraignment schedule, according to the division clerk of court.

The fourth division is chaired by Associate Justice Gregory Ong, with Associate Justice Jose Hernandez as lone member.

Two other Sandiganbayan divisions handling other cases against Perez had already set his arraignment and those of his wife, Rosario, brother-in-law Ramon Arceo and business associate Ernest Escaler.

The first division had scheduled their arraignment on violation of section 3-B of RA 3019 on May 16.

The second division has reset to May 23 the arraignment of Perez and his three co-accused on charges of robbery/extortion (violation Article 294 in relation to Article 293 of the Revised Penal Code) after his wife failed to attend the arraignment last Monday.

The third division, which handles the falsification of public document charges against Perez, has yet to set the date for his arraignment.

Earlier, lawyers of the Perez couple, led by Marcial Balgos, filed a motion to quash charges and sought the suspension of arraignment in all four divisions of the Sandiganbayan pending resolution of their appeals with the Supreme Court.

Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval, Second Division chairman, said arraignment is not part of the trial and that there would be no conflict in case the SC ruled in favor of the Perezes.

The case at the Sandiganbayan could be dismissed upon order of the Supreme Court even after the arraignment, he added.  – Edu Punay