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Sandigan denies plea of ex-DPWH officials to dismiss remaining graft, estafa charges

Philippines | National

Sandigan denies plea of ex-DPWH officials to dismiss remaining graft, estafa charges

By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki

Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has rejected the motion filed by four former officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and two private individuals to dismiss the other graft and estafa charges filed against them in the alleged P82.3 million vehicle repair scam.

The anti-graft court had earlier granted the demurrer to evidence filed by former Bureau of Equipment Assistant Director Florendo B. Arias, Motorpool Section Chief Maximo A. Borje Jr., Supply Officer IV Mirofe C. Fronda, employee Rogelio L. Beray, private individual and spare parts suppliers Janette A. Bugayong and Victoria M. Go.

The grant of their demurrer (a pleading filed by an accused to dismiss the charges based on alleged weakness of the prosecution’s evidence to sustain a conviction) resulted in the dismissal of more than 150 of the 236 graft and estafa charges filed against them.

They filed a motion for reconsideration and pleaded the court to dismiss their remaining cases.

In a resolution promulgated last Sept. 28, the court denied their motion.

"Accused Arias et al seeks a reconsideration of this court's resolution insofar as the cases that were not dismissed on demurrer to evidence. According to them, the same evidence was used for all the cases; hence, all the cases should have been dismissed," the resolution stated.

"This court is not persuaded," it ruled as it scheduled the presentation by Arias and his group of their evidence on Oct. 26, Nov. 23, and Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 29 and 30, 2023.

Second Division Chairperson Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta wrote the 13-page resolution with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses and Georgina D. Hidalgo.

TAGS: #SANDIGANBAYAN

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