Ejercito confident of victory in graft trial
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday said he was confident of victory as he attended the second day of his graft trial over the anomalous purchase of firearms using calamity funds when he was San Juan mayor.
In an interview after his trial before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, Ejercito said he decided to attend the hearing to listen to the prosecution witnesses testifying against him for graft.
Wearing a sling over his arm due to a surgery, Ejercito said he was satisfied with how his lawyers were handling his graft trial.
On Monday, the following testified how the municipal government of San Juan used calamity funds to purchase high-powered firearms when Ejercito was mayor—acting city accountant Dinah Almazan Lamsen, city treasurer Leticia Alcober and city budget officer Liza Tiomico.
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“So far, the reason I am here is to really observe, to make sure. Kasi (Because) contrary to the reports that came out syempre nagworry din ako (of course I’m worried) but based on what my legal team has reported I think if you would look at it, I’m quite satisfied,” Ejercito said.
“I cannot speak on the points here kasi magiging (because it would be) sub judice (under court consideration) to. Pero I think ano kung hihimayin lang talaga ung (But I think if we would deliberate on the) legal merits I think I’m quite satisfied at how it is the case is progressing,” he added.
Ejercito begged off from commenting about the testimonies of the witnesses, citing sub judice rule not to discuss the merits of the case.
Ejercito also questioned the prosecution’s move to summon incumbent city officials to court and not the former officials who served in the city hall during Ejercito’s term and who knew first hand the transactions for the purchase of firearms.
“Wala kaming bad faith dito e so palagay ko lang kaya ang kinuha niya yung mga hindi ano (There is no bad faith on our part so I think the prosecution summoned), those officials who were not yet sitting at the time. And I think yung those who are dapat lang talagang kunin nila ung mga may alam sa transaction di ba (those who should be summoned by the prosecution should really have the knowledge about the transaction, right)? To be fair,” Ejercito said.
Ejercito maintained his innocence from the graft allegation that he gave undue preference to the winning supplier HK Tactical Defense System in the transaction for firearms.
“Siguro kung hihimayin nyo kahit yung mga facts na lang (Perhaps if you would deliberate on the facts alone), I think that I’m quite confident naman because I know in my heart that I did not do anything wrong. Yun na lang, confident ako,” Ejercito said.
During the hearing, Lamsen testified that the city of San Juan issued a check to pay HK Defense System Inc. P1.988 million as payment for the purchase of firearms, which means the transaction was consummated.
Lamsen testified that the accounting department had prepared a disbursement voucher in relation to the payment of firearms.
Alcober testified that there were documents showing that the firearms were paid by the city of San Juan – purchase request, purchase order, disbursement voucher, and a Landbank check all bearing the signatures of then mayor Ejercito, as well as the official receipt and the municipal treasurer’s cash book.
Alcober also said the payment of P1.9 million for the firearms purchase was deducted from the cash book of the city.
Tiomico meanwhile testified about the documents pertaining to the appropriation of funds for the purchase of firearms – Sangguniang Panlungsod ordinances, a City Resolution, and the allotment and obligation slips.
She said the Sanggunian Ordinances directed the allocation to be charged to the calamity fund, while the City Resolution approved the request of the city development council to adopt measures to prevent a disaster using the calamity fund.
The graft charges stemmed from the allegedly anomalous procurement of high-powered rifles worth P2.1 million using the city’s calamity funds even though the city was not under a state of calamity when Ejercito was San Juan mayor in 2008.
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In the graft information, the Ombudsman prosecutors said the purchase of the firearms was done without public bidding and post-qualification and that the winning bidder, HK Tactical Defense System, submitted bid documents bearing dates earlier than the publication of invitation to bid, which showed that there was unwarranted benefit given to the supplier.
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The firearms purchased included three units of model K2 cal. 5.56mm sub-machine guns and 17 units of Daewoo model K1 cal. 5.56 mm sub-machine guns.
Ejercito is facing a separate technical malversation charge before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division in connection with the alleged illegal use of the calamity funds for firearms. RAM/rga
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