Ex-lawmaker seeks stop to warrant of arrest

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan ordered government prosecutors yesterday to comment on the motion of former Bukidnon congressman Nereus Acosta seeking a stop to the issuance of an arrest warrant in relation to the four graft cases filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman last month.

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Gregory Ong, also gave the Office of the Special Prosecutor five days to comment on Acosta’s allegation that he was being subjected to political harassment.

Acosta argued that he “is being dragged into a messy political issue” following the recent filing of an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez before the House of Representatives, in which he said he was not involved.

Acosta also alleged that the Office of the Ombudsman ignored his defense in the graft complaints.

In one of the four graft cases, Acosta is charged along with his mother Socorro, former mayor of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, and maternal aunt Ma. Nemia Bornidor, a member of the board of trustees of the Bukidnon Integrated Network of Home Industries Inc., a private entity.

They were accused of allegedly defrauding the government of P10.5 million in public funds.

Acosta said the Sandiganbayan should suspend all four cases and allow him to file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said the anti-graft court should also set a hearing for judicial determination of probable cause “to establish the propriety of the prosecution of the accused.”