Zamora, et al. arraigned on malversation raps

Former San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora and two other ex-officials on Monday pleaded not guilty to technical malversation over the allegedly anomalous purchase of P2.1 million worth of high-powered firearms using the city’s calamity funds in 2008.

Zamora and his co-accused, former city councilors Angelino Mendoza and Rolando Bernardo, were arraigned in the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division for violating Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code.

After the arraignment, the court scheduled the preliminary conference on Oct. 26 and the pre-trial on Nov. 10. The trial for technical malversation will begin on Nov. 22 and 23.

The principal accused, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in July.

Zamora, Mendoza and Bernardo were arraigned on Monday since unlike Ejercito and the other councilors, they chose to appeal the court’s finding of probable cause.

The delay in their arraignment prompted Ejercito and the other co-accused to seek separate trial proceedings so that the case against them could be resolved earlier. However, the court has yet to rule on his request.

At the time of the guns’ purchase, Ejercito was San Juan mayor. Zamora, Bernardo and Mendoza were members of the city council which passed the ordinance allowing the purchase of firearms using calamity funds even though San Juan was not in a state of calamity.