Agusan Norte gov, 2 others nabbed after Sandigan hearing

MANILA, Philippines - Agusan del Norte Gov. Erlpe John Amante and two of his officials were arrested after attending a hearing of their graft case at the Sandiganbayan yesterday morning.

Amante and Apolinario Yee and Celso Perez, both employees of the provincial engineering office, were barred from leaving the premises for about two hours until they had posted bail of P90,000 each.

Upon orders of the Sandiganbayan’s First Division, personnel of the security and sheriff office took the three under their custody and got their pictures and fingerprints.

Accompanied by his lawyer Joel Ferrer, Amante willingly subjected himself to the process knowing that the sheriffs were only doing their job.

Amante was arrested after attending a hearing on his omnibus motion asking the Sandiganbayan to order, among others, the judicial determination of probable cause.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro ordered the filing of multiple graft cases against Amante, Yee and Perez last June 9 for allegedly giving unwarranted benefits to a private company. An official of a small-scale mining firm, a certain Jimwell Orpilla, was also indicted.

Permits were allegedly granted to SR Metals Inc. (SRMI) allowing it to transport 672,163 metric tons of nickel ore worth $23,818,715 from August 2006 to April 2007.

Casimiro also recommended that further investigation be conducted against Amante, Caloocan City Vice Mayor Edgar Erice of SRMI and several private individuals “to determine their liability for plunder and other crimes or offenses punishable under the law.”