Sandiganbayan to decide on Brillante case today

The Sandiganbayan’s third division has set the promulgation of a contempt charge against former Makati City vice mayor Roberto Brillante at 1:30 p.m. today.

The charge stemmed from statements Brillante had made during a press conference, in which he claimed that three members of the anti-graft court received P10 million each from Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay in exchange for dismissing a graft case filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged overpricing in the purchase of P60.47 million worth of office furniture between 1999 and 2001.

Brillante had filed the graft complaint against Binay based on a report made by the Commission on Audit. He held the press conference after the Sandiganbayan dismissed the graft charge against Binay for being fatally defective.

The Sandiganbayan said it dismissed the charges because the case information failed to cite the specifics of the offense being alleged.

Several newspapers published the allegations aired during the press conference by Brillante, who later denied having made a categorial accusation of bribery against Associate Justices Godofredo Legaspi, Efren dela Cruz and Norberto Geraldez. He  said the reporters sensationalized his statements.

The Sandiganbayan justices declared that the bribery allegation was an attack on its integrity and required Brillante to explain in court why he should not be cited for indirect contempt of court.  – Sandy Araneta