Devanadera to be arraigned on graft, malversation raps next month

MANILA, Philippines - Former justice secretary Agnes Devanadera will be arraigned on graft and malversation charges at the Sandiganbayan next month.

The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division under Associate Justice Roland Jurado ordered Devanadera to present herself before the court on July 31 after dismissing her second motion for reinvestigation.

Devanadera is accused of pocketing public funds when she was government corporate counsel five years ago.

Her co-respondents are former assistant government corporate counsel Jose Marie Capili, head executive assistant Rolando Faller, and accountant Divina Gracia Cruz.

They posted bail in different amounts last February after the Sandiganbayan dismissed their first motion for reinvestigation and warrants of arrest were issued against them.

Devanadera’s second motion for reinvestigation was dismissed for being based on rehashed arguments, according to Assistant Special Prosecutor III Joefferson Toribio.

The Sandiganbayan said Devanadera wants the court to examine once again the evidence submitted during the preliminary investigation and to consider her supporting arguments and have the court virtually pass upon her guilt or innocence.

“However, it must be remembered that what is in issue now is the existence of probable cause,” read the decision.

The Sandiganbayan said the complaint may not be quashed on the alleged lack of authority of the Office of the Ombudsman to file the case for its failure to establish the existence of probable cause. – With Michael Punongbayan