Prosecutors firm on findings clearing mayor

Government prosecutors are standing firm on their findings that cleared Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri of criminal charges over the arrest of parking attendants in 2004 as they disputed the contention of Jadewell Parking Systems Corp. that pushed for the arraignment of the official.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) said that Jadewell, which had protested the prosecution’s plea to withdraw the charges filed against Echiverri with the Sandiganbayan, has no private interest in the case.

The OSP, in its comment filed with the antigraft court, said Jadewell’s employees, who were arrested by Echiverri, had been relegated to “mere complaining witnesses.” “In a sense, it has no personality to intervene or to be represented by a private prosecutor,” it added. It also said that the private lawyer who had represented Jadewell when it filed its opposition had not even asked the court’s permission to appear as a private prosecutor.

“All criminal actions are prosecuted under the direction and control of the fiscal,” it said. The OSP reiterated its plea before the court for the withdrawal of the charges against Echiverri and the dismissal of the case. As for Jadewell’s arguments delving on the merits of the case, the OSP said these had been fully passed on in its resolution recommending the dismissal of the charges.