MANILA, Philippines - Appearing before the Sandiganbayan in a wheelchair, former transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza entered a not guilty plea to graft charges in connection with the anomalous national broadband network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
Unable to speak due to effects of a stroke two months ago, Mendoza simply nodded his head when asked if he was denying the accusations against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.
He suffered a stroke two months ago while attending his son’s birthday party in Batangas.
Mendoza, 66, was accompanied by a doctor, a private nurse, his lawyer Alexander Poblador, and some relatives during the proceedings.
It was Mendoza who signed the $329-million deal in 2007 for the government then headed by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now a Pampanga congresswoman.
Arroyo is also a respondent in the case along with former elections chief Benjamin Abalos Sr.
Mendoza was supposed to have been arraigned last month but Sandiganbayan Fourth Division chairman Gregory Ong granted his lawyer’s wish that he be allowed to recover first.
“He could not talk with ease and can only walk with some assistance,” Poblador told reporters in an interview after the arraignment.
“He is presently undergoing therapy. We pushed through with today’s arraignment because he already said that he is feeling a lot better than before and I was permitted by the court to speak on his behalf,” Poblador said.
Mendoza’s lawyer is set to file a waiver of appearance to allow the former Department of Transportation and Communications chief to skip hearings for health reasons.