Case vs Kokoy refiled

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto refiled in the Sandiganbayan yesterday the graft case against Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez, brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, for receiving dual compensation as Leyte governor and as envoy to China, Saudi Arabia and the United States from 1976 to 1986.

The graft case was refiled after special prosecutor Leonardo Tamayo ruled that there was probable cause to continue the prosecution of Romualdez.

Five months ago, the Sandiganbayan’s third division, chaired by Associate Justice Anacleto Badoy, remanded the case to the Ombudsman as it granted Romualdez’s petition questioning the lack of preliminary investigation.

Tamayo said Romualdez got dual compensation from the Leyte provincial government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs amounting to $276,911.56 or roughly P5,806,709.50. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Pia Lee-Brago