Acosta opposes aunt’s bid to turn state witness

New LLDA Chief Nereus Acosta. comelec.gov.ph photo

Presidential adviser Nereus Acosta has questioned his aunt’s plan to turn state’s evidence and testify against him in a graft case they are facing.

He has also opposed her plea to defer their trial in the Sandiganbayan while she is awaiting the Ombudsman’s decision on her petition.

In an opposition filed in the antigraft court on February 1,Acosta said he had a right to a speedy trial, which overrode his aunt Nemia Bornidor’s “self-serving” plea to hold it in abeyance.

“These rights are constitutionally guaranteed and are superior to rights claimed by Bornidor, including her application for conversion to a state witness,” he said.

Bornidor, in her motion, said she was seeking a temporary stop to the trial to give the Office of the Ombudsman time to resolve her petition to become a state witness. She noted that the prosecution had no more witnesses to present and approving her petition would give it a new witness.