DBM exec, 3 employees ask Sandiganbayan to recall arrest order

MANILA, Philippines - An official and three employees of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday asked the Sandiganbayan to recall the arrest warrants issued against them for the graft cases in connection with the pork barrel scam.

The lawyers of DBM Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and employees Rossario Nunez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare also asked the First Division of the anti-graft court to defer thei scheduled arraignment on June 26.

The four DBM employees Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.'s co-accused in the graft cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Revilla, who has also been detained for plunder at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, is scheduled to be arraigned on June 26 along with 19 others in connection with the pork barrel cases.

In their omnibus motion for reconsideration, the four accused alleged that there is no probable cause to indict them of the charges in the first place.

"The Ombudman's sweeping and perfunctory allegation of conspiracy in the information is pure rhetoric, bereft of factual or legal bases," the motion read.

"It is fundamental that criminal conspiracy is never presumed. It must be duly proved. Like the physical acts constituting the crime itself, the elements of conspiracy must also proven beyond reasonable doubts," the motion added.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft cases against them for the hasty release of the special allotment release order to the office of Revilla.

For his part, Relampagos claimed he signed only five of the 12 SAROs which he said he issued "in the normal exercise of his formal functions as alternate signatory for the DBM Secretary."