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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sandiganbayan denies return of ex-DBM Usec Relampagos' bail, travel bonds despite acquittal

Sandiganbayan denies return of ex-DBM Usec Relampagos' bail, travel bonds despite acquittal

Published Jul 16, 2025 01:54 pm
The Sandiganbayan has denied the return of the P315,000 bail and travel bonds posted by former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) undersecretary Mario L. Relampagos despite his acquittal of the criminal charges in the P6.5 million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of a former congressman.
In a motion he filed last June 24, Relampagos sought the return of his cash bonds as he told the anti-graft court that the continued forfeiture serves no purpose except as a penalty.
In denying the motion, the Sandiganbayan said that Relampagos failed to appear before the court after granting him leave to travel to the United States from Dec. 2, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018.
On Jan. 2, 2018, Relampagos, through his lawyer, informed the court that he opted not to return to the Philippines.
"Considering Relampagos' breach of the conditions and the stipulations in his bonds, causing the same to be forfeited in favor of the government, it only follows that there are no longer any bonds to cancel and release in his favor," the court ruled.
It noted that at the time of the issuance of the resolution, Relampagos had not presented himself to the court.
The five-page resolution was written by Special 7th Division Chairperson Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta with the concurrence of Associate Justices Georgina D. Hidalgo and Zaldy V. Trespeses.
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