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Ronnie Ricketts on graft acquittal: 'It strengthens my faith in our justice system'

Entertainment | Celebrities

Ronnie Ricketts on graft acquittal: 'It strengthens my faith in our justice system'

By Neil Ramos

Ronnie Ricketts welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to acquit him of graft stemming from a raid he conducted in Quiapo in 2010 as chair of the Optical Media Board (OMB).

Taking to Facebook, the former action star posted: “I welcome the decision of the Honorable Supreme Court which reversed the verdict of the Sandiganbayan against me, and acquitted me of graft charges filed against me as former Optical Media Board (OMB) Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer.

“All my actions as OMB Chairperson and CEO were undertaken in pursuit of its mandate, and only had public interest in mind. Kapakanan lang po ng mamamayan ang aking ipinaglaban.

“This decision of the Supreme Court truly upholds the rule of law, and strengthens my faith, and the faith of all who fought with me, in our justice system.”

https://www.facebook.com/RickettsRonnie/posts/609225610565716

He went on to thank his wife, actress Mariz Ricketts, his lawyers and God.

“Sa patuloy Niyang gabay at tulong, lalo ko pa pong sisikapin na makatulong ng maayos para sa kinabukasan ng bayan. Muli, maraming maraming salamat po sa tiwala, suporta at pagmamahal.”

The actor, along with OMB computer operator Glenn Perez, and OMB directors Cyrus Paul S. Valenzuela, Manuel J. Mangubat, and Joseph D. Arnaldo, were charged by the Ombudsman with graft for allegedly allowing the return of over 120 boxes of confiscated pirated DVDs and VCDs to their manufacturer, Sky High Marketing, and for not filing any complaints against the persons arrested in the Quiapo raid.

In 2019, the Sandiganbayan acquitted the three OMB directors but convicted Ricketts and Perez, who appealed before the Supreme Court. While the SC reversed the verdict on the actor, it affirmed the Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on Perez.

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acquittal ronnie ricketts graft

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