Graft case filed vs ex-PCGG chief

MANILA, Philippines - Graft charges were ordered filed yesterday against former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio for allegedly trying to influence a ruling on a case involving the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

The charges against Sabio stemmed from his alleged attempt to convince his brother, Associate Justice Jose Sabio of the Court of Appeals, to help a party-litigant in the case, which is pending before the appellate court.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said the anti-graft agency found probable cause to indict Chairman Sabio for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Revised Penal Code.

Records showed that on May 30, 2008, Justice Sabio was informed by his brother that he had been named member of a CA division to which the Meralco-GSIS case was raffled.

Chairman Sabio allegedly tried to convince his brother to help the GSIS.

Anti-graft investigators discovered that Chairman Sabio received a call from GSIS board member Jesus Santos, who informed him that the Meralco-GSIS case had been raffled off to the CA division of Justice Sabio.

Santos allegedly asked the former PCGG chairman to convince his brother to rule against the issuance of a temporary restraining order favoring Meralco.

Justice Sabio was not included as respondent in the case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO), “since records do not show that he had been influenced by his elder brother.”