The Sandiganbayan has denied anew the plea of former mayor Jessie B. Castillo of Bacoor City in Cavite to dismiss the graft charge filed against him in 2000 for alleged violation of his right to speedy trial and disposition of case.
Castillo’s first motion was denied by the anti-graft court on Dec. 27, 2022. He filed a motion for reconsideration which was also denied in a resolution handed down last Jan. 31.
He was charged with graft in connection with the alleged illegal operation of a dumpsite without a certification from the Environmental Management Bureau.
His motion to quash the criminal charge was denied in 2001. While his motion to dismiss was granted in 2002, the Supreme Court (SC) reversed the dismissal in 2015.
"Upon perusal of the grounds raised by the accused (Castillo) in his Motion and the comments of the prosecution, as well as the prevailing jurisprudence on the matter, the Court finds no sufficient basis to depart from its previous Resolution," the Sandiganbayan said.
The court said that during the alleged period of delay, Castillo "silently waited" for the proceedings of his case, and it is only on Sept. 23, 2022 when the Sandiganbayan requested that the complete records of his case be transmitted from the SC did he raise his right to speedy trial and disposition of the case.
"Accused's silence amounts to waiver of his right to speedy trial and disposition of his case," the court stressed.
TAGS: #Sandiganbayan #Bacoor City #Ex-Mayor Jessie B. Castillo