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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'You are forgiven' -- Sandiganbayan to former PNP deputy director general

'You are forgiven' -- Sandiganbayan to former PNP deputy director general

Published Mar 20, 2021 03:03 pm

The former deputy director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and now mayor of Tuguegarao City begged for forgiveness before the Sandiganbayan.

MANILA BULLETIN FILE

“Court can give heed, but only once,” declared the anti-graft court.

But the court’s forgiveness was not granted on Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano’s graft and falsification charges filed against him in connection with the P109 million alleged second-hand helicopters purchased in 2009.

He was forgiven by the court for his “lapses’ during the video conferencing hearing on the cases last Feb. 15.

Soriano was held in contempt and was fined P1,000 for losing his focus during the Feb. 15 online hearing by attending to people who came in and out of his office.

He filed a motion for reconsideration on Feb. 16, explaining that he absolutely meant no disrespect to the court, and was only caught up by "unexpected circumstances." Soriano begged the court for clemency, understanding, and forgiveness.

While the penalty may not be stiff, Soriano said he would rather not have the stigma of being branded as disrespectful.

In a resolution, the anti-graft court said all the other participants during the hearing were "dead set" in keeping pace with the proceedings, and the deflection of one from the protocol was enough to disrupt their pace.

Soriano joined the video conferencing hearing early. However, he was quick to lose his attention over the proceedings and reasoned that he was distracted by his duties as mayor.

The mayor admitted that the shortcoming on his part was only because of "honest lapses or oversight, not at all accompanied by any thought of dishonesty, rudeness, insolence or incivility."

Luckily for him, the anti-graft court decided to grant his motion.

"The Court would rather not speculate on the verity of such statements but would simply expand its understanding on the role he had to fulfill as City Mayor," stated the resolution written by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez Estoesta.

Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses Georgina D. Hidalgo concurred.

Soriano’s co-accused in the graft and falsification charges are former First Gentleman Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and former PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa.

They allegedly passed off two second-hand Robinson R44 helicopters as brand new in 2009.

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