Sandigan junks raps vs Imelda’s brother

The Sandiganbayan exonerated yesterday a brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos of graft charges in connection with his alleged dual compensation when the Marcoses were still in power.

In a nine-page resolution, the anti-graft court’s first division threw out the charges against Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez, saying that government prosecutors failed to show that he did not render service when he was Leyte governor and concurrent ambassador to three countries.

"We find that the allegation of damage and prejudice to the government in the amount of P5.8 million representing Romualdez’s compensation is without basis, absent a showing that he did not actually render services for his two concurrent positions," the court said. — Delon Porcalla