Prosecutors: We can pin Perez down even without Jimenez
By Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:48:00 07/25/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Government prosecutors Thursday expressed confidence they could pin former Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez on robbery and extortion charges even without the participation of businessman Mark Jimenez, the original complainant.
In a hearing Thursday, the prosecutors told the Sandiganbayan the case was not solely dependent on Jimenez, who in 2002 accused Perez of extorting $2 million from him to drop a demand Jimenez reveal what he knew about a contract between the government and an Argentine firm to build, repair and run a hydroelectric power plant in Laguna.
Joseph Estrada was President then in 1998 when the contract was signed and he revealed an alleged $14-million bribe offer to him to approve the contract. Jimenez was his business advisor.
In 2002, Jimenez made his revelation about Perez in a privilege speech he delivered in Congress after he had become Manila’s 6th district representative.
He withdrew his complaint from the Office of the Ombudsman in October last year.
“Are you telling us you can prove robbery without [Jimenez]?” asked Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval, chair of the Second Division which is trying the case.
“We believe so, your honor. We are prepared for that,” said the prosecution panel.
But Perez and his lawyers said the prosecution must have been kidding.
“I don’t know if they were joking. I am not sure if they were serious when they said that,” said Perez in an interview with reporters after the proceedings. He reiterated that without Jimenez, there was no case.
“I just don’t know how this will proceed without Jimenez,” said Perez, who on Aug. 5 will personally argue his petition to overturn the court’s ruling denying his motion to quash the information against him.
The prosecution said it had other witnesses who would testify against Perez.
Perez faces cases of robbery-extortion, falsification of public documents, violation of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft Law), and of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees) in four separate divisions of the Sandiganbayan.
He has entered a not guilty plea to the falsification of public documents charge in the Third Division after his lawyers failed to convince the court to reset his arraignment pending resolution of their motion to consolidate the four cases against him.
Perez’s wife Rosario, brother-in-law Ramon Arceo and business associate Ernest Escaler are his co-accused in the robbery and extortion case.
|
