Acosta's 90-day preventive suspension ends

MANILA, Philippines - Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Nereus Acosta, who was slapped with a 90-day preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan three months ago, may now return to work.

Since the anti-graft court’s order states that the suspension is automatically lifted after it is complied with, Acosta may now again exercise authority over the LLDA.

Acosta, who ran for senator but lost in the 2010 national elections, is also a presidential assistant on climate change of the Aquino administration. 

The preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division chaired by Associate Justice Gregory Ong stemmed from a P10.5-million graft case filed against Acosta by the Office of the Ombudsman in February 2009.

Acosta, his mother, former Manolo Fortich town mayor Socorro Acosta, and his maternal aunt, Ma. Nemia Bornidor, are the respondents in the case involving alleged misuse of public funds when Acosta was still a congressman.

Acosta initially tried to fight efforts by Ombudsman lawyers to have him suspended to prevent him from supposedly influencing witnesses and tampering with evidence but he later decided to voluntarily accept the suspension order.

In a manifestation, he said he was submitting himself to voluntary service of suspension beginning last Feb. 7, which means that the 90-day period has been completed.

“It’s a 12-year-old issue/case that has nothing to do with my present appointments. I don’t want to drag the Office of the President and the LLDA institution into this legal battle,” he said.

“I respect the court and submit to the process. I believe that in the end truth and justice will prevail and I will be vindicated,” he added.

The STAR tried but failed to reach Acosta yesterday for comments on his return as an official of the Aquino administration.