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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Old age, death of spouse not grounds to dismiss case -- Sandiganbayan

Old age, death of spouse not grounds to dismiss case -- Sandiganbayan

Published Feb 11, 2021 11:35 am

While Sandiganbayan justices said they “empathize with the humanitarian concerns raised by the accused-movant (former legislator Judy Syjuco) such as her old age and the recent loss of her husband, unfortunately, these are not recognized grounds for the grant of her subject motion" to dismiss her graft and malversation charges.

MANILA BULLETIN FILE

With the justices’ statement contained in a resolution written by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje Tang, the anti-graft court denied Syjuco’s plea to dismiss the charges filed against her.

Syjuco, who used to be a congresswoman for the 2nd district of Iloilo, is the widow of the late Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Augusto "Buboy" Syjuco Jr., who passed away in January 2020 at age 77.

Mrs. Syjuco was charged with violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to provisions of the Revised Penal Code in connection with the purchase of 1,582 units of Nokia 1100 cellular telephones worth P5,964,859.99 for Region VI in 2005 without conducting public bidding in 2005.

In her motion to dismiss that was filed when the prosecution has started to present its evidence, Mrs. Syjuco said the charges do not constitute an offense against her and invoked -- in the interest of justice and humanitarian concerns --- her old age and the recent death of her husband – for "just and equitable" consideration.

The prosecution, however, opposed the motion as it pointed out that it (motion) is not allowed under the Revised Rules of Court, Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan, and the Revised Guidelines for Continuous Trial of Criminal Cases.

It said Mrs. Syjuco should have raised her arguments in a motion to quash (dismiss) filed before her arraignment, or in a motion after the termination of the presentation of evidence against her.

Ruling in favor of the prosecution and dismissing Mrs. Syjuco’s plea, the Sandiganbayan said:

"It bears emphasizing that the case is already at the stage of the defense's presentation of evidence and which must proceed as a matter of course.”

The resolution was concurred in by Associate Justices Bernelito R. Fernandez and Ronald B. Moreno.

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