Sandigan raffles off ‘pork’ cases vs 5 ex-lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan yesterday raffled off the cases filed against five former lawmakers in connection with the pork barrel fund scam.

The plunder and graft charges against former Masbate representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete went to the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division chaired by Associate Justice Jose Hernandez.

Associate Justice Roland Jurado, chairman of the Fifth Division, will handle the charges against former APEC party-list representative Edgar Valdez.

The graft, direct bribery and malversation of public funds cases against former representatives Cagayan de Oro congressman Constantino Jaraula Rodolfo Plaza (Agusan del Sur) and Samuel Dangwa (Benguet) went to the First, Second and Third Divisions, respectively.

Sandiganbayan presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said arrest warrants and hold departure orders would be issued against the former lawmakers if magistrates find probable cause to indict them.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the criminal charges against the former lawmakers on Thursday for allegedly misusing pork barrel funds amounting to P339 million.

Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said the cases stemmed from complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and anti-graft agency’s probers from the Field Investigation Office.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday that government prosecutors should prove first in court that Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s wealth are ill-gotten before seeking the garnishment of his assets.

The prosecution is expected to move for the execution of the freeze order on P224 million in assets of the senator issued Thursday by the Sandiganbayan.

The former president said the prosecution also tried but failed to garnish his assets during his trial for plunder. – With Jose Rodel Clapano