Sandigan orders arrest of Acosta, mother

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan issued new warrants of arrest yesterday against Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Nereus Acosta and his mother Socorro for perjury.

The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division directed law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement the arrest orders.

Hold departure orders (HDOs) were also issued and sent to the Bureau of Immigration against Acosta and his mother, who are facing perjury charges for allegedly lying in a September 2006 counter-affidavit.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Acosta, a former Bukidnon congressman and now the presidential adviser on environment protection, and his mother Socorro, a former mayor of Manolo Fortich town in Bukidnon, have issued untruthful statements in answering a graft complaint that the anti-graft agency was then still investigating