Sandiganbayan divisions differ on Relampagos lawyers’ plea

Two Sandiganbayan divisions have issued conflicting orders on the issue of whether the lawyers of fugitive former Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos can stop representing him in the pork barrel scam cases.

The Seventh Division denied the plea of De Guzman Dionido Caga Jucaban and Associates Law Offices to be relieved as Relampagos’ counsel.

In a resolution released on Thursday, the court said the law office failed to justify its withdrawal from the case without its fugitive client’s consent.

The court said that Relampagos’ lawyers—Godofredo de Guzman, Arnold Caga and Christopher John Lao—“actively championed” his motion to travel to the United States.

On the other hand, the Fifth Division relieved the law office of their responsibility as Relampagos’ legal counsel, citing the lack of objection from the Ombudsman prosecutors.

The Sandiganbayan had permitted Relampagos to attend a global financial management meeting in Washington, D.C. He has not returned to the country.—VINCE F. NONATO