NANI ASKS SANDIGAN TO SUSPEND EXTORTION HEARINGS
MANILA, APRIL 22, 2008 (STAR) By Edu Punay - Former justice secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez and his wife have asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend its proceedings on four criminal charges filed against them by the Ombudsman.The charges stemmed from allegations by former Manila congressman Mark Jimenez that they extorted $2 million from him in 2001.
In a manifestation and urgent motion filed by their lawyers yesterday afternoon, Perez and wife Rosario said the anti-graft court should suspend the proceedings pending resolution of an earlier petition for the Supreme Court to stop the Ombudsman from pursuing the case since Jimenez had already withdrawn his complaint.
Perez’s lawyers said their motion was also meant to prevent the Sandiganbayan and the SC from issuing conflicting decisions.
“It is respectfully submitted that the deferment of the instant proceedings is warranted as the adjudication of the issues raised (in the case) will materially affect the outcome of this case,” Perez’s motion said.
Last Friday, the Perez couple petitioned the High Court to reverse the Ombudsman’s resolution allowing the filing of criminal cases against Perez, his wife Rosario, brother-in-law Ramon Arceo, and business associate Ernest Escaler.
Last Monday, Escaler posted a P100,000 bail at the Sandiganbayan Second Division for the robbery charges; and at the First Division for the graft charges.
Court officials said the justices still have to meet to determine if there is probable cause to justify the issuance of warrants of arrest and hold departure orders against the accused.
Apart from robbery and extortion charges, Perez and his three co-accused are also facing charges for violation of section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 3019 or grave misconduct.
A separate case of falsification of public documents was filed against the former justice chief in connection with his failure to disclose in his 2001 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) the $1.7 million deposited in his and his wife’s bank accounts.
The graft charges were assigned to the First Division, the grave misconduct to the Fourth Division, and the falsification of documents to the Third Division.
The Ombudsman upheld last Friday the filing of criminal charges against Perez and the three others with the Sandiganbayan.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2008
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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