DOJ orders billionaire Roberto Ongpin to answer criminal raps
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered billionaire businessman Roberto Ongpin to answer the criminal complaint filed against him by a former employee.
In a one-page subpoena dated May 26, Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera directed Ongpin to appear at the preliminary investigation and submit his counter-affidavit, a response to the complaint of Eduveges Batalan.
“Under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by law, you are hereby summoned to appear at 3rd floor, Forum Building, Department of Justice, Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila on June 9, 2014 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, in connection with the preliminary investigation of the above-entitled case to be conducted by the undersigned and to submit your counter- affidavit and those of your witnesses and other supporting documents, if any, if your defense,” the order said.
Navera said that failure on the part of Ongpin to comply with the subpoena “shall be considered as a waiver to present your defense in the preliminary investigation and the case shall be considered submitted for resolution based on complainant’s evidence only.
Roberto V. Ongpin FILE PHOTO
Aside from Ongpin, also summoned to appear on the same hearing were his co-respondents, namely Michael Angelo Patrick Asperin alias Mike; Josephine Manalo; Ma. Natalia Cristina Manalo Dalupan; Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, all from the Executive Office Alphaland; Atty. Carlo Bautista of Philweb Corporation; Rogelio Sulit, a security personnel of Alpha Force Security Agency; Jerry Penaflor, Jigsaw Cartas, Col. Gregor Mendel Panelo and Roderico Arellano Bautista, all from Alpha Force Security Agency.
Also summoned to appear was Carlito Sovrebega, flight dispatcher of Alphaland who was charged as an accessory in the case.
Sovrebega allegedly made a false statement excluding Batalan’s name in the passenger manifest of the departing flight from Manila to Balesin and its return flight to Manila.
In his complaint, Batalang accused Ongpin and the others of detaining him from Feb. 4 to 7 in the businessman’s Balesin Island Resort in Quezon where he was forced to admit that he stole company money.
He was also allegedly forced to resign from Philweb Corporation, one of Ongpin’s firm where Batalan was previously employed.
Meanwhile, Ongpin, through his counsel Rodolfo Ma. Ponferrada said they have not yet received a copy of the subpoena.
“We have to wait for the summons and have it evaluated by our legal team before we comment,” Ponferrada said in a text message.
Earlier, Ongpin, through his counsel, denied the allegations.
“We completely deny these charges. They are false and erroneous. They are nothing but contrived accusations of a disgruntled employee,” Ponferrada said,
He said Batalan has been Ongpin’s employee for several years. “But instead of being loyal, he stole money from Mr. Ongpin and his companies. Thus, he was terminated for cause (theft and dishonesty).”
Ponferrada said a criminal complaint for qualified theft was filed against Batalan by Philweb, where he previously worked. The complaint was before the City Prosecutor of Makati as early as Feb. 12, 2014 and is currently undergoing preliminary investigation.
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