News Briefs: May 26, 2019
Sandigan denies Ampatuan’s bid to dismiss graft case
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan third division has rejected the motion of ex-Maguindanao Gov. Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan to dismiss the graft and malversation charges against him for his involvement in an anomalous ghost farm supplies deal.
Ampatuan earlier filed a motion to quash ahead of his scheduled arraignment in a bid to have his case dismissed due to “inordinate delay.”
Ampatuan said his case should be dismissed since the Office of the Ombudsman violated his constitutional right to a speedy resolution of his case.
He argued that it took the Ombudsman three years, 10 months and 21 days to decide to file a case, and another one year to prepare the actual case information.
However, in its 17-page resolution, the antigraft court said it saw no delay in his case, since the prosecution had to deal with voluminous documents.
Ampatuan’s case stems from his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the government of some P98,249,850 worth of public funds.
The said amount was supposed to be used to purchase palay, corn, seeds and fertilizers from Tamoni Enterprises, but a Commission on Audit report showed that no such purchases were made. —Patricia Denise M. Chiu
PNP releases P6.3B for personnel’s midyear bonus
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has released over the past week a total of P6.3 billion in bonuses to its 195,561 personnel.
The amount represents this year’s midyear bonus, equivalent to one month’s basic salary.
In a statement, the PNP Finance Service under Police Brig. Gen. Joselito M. Vera Cruz announced that the midyear bonus had been credited to the individual ATM payroll accounts of PNP personnel as of Tuesday, except for personnel with pending administrative and criminal cases whose bonuses will be deferred.
PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said the “swift” release of the bonus was aimed at boosting the morale of the police force and was in accordance “to the vision of President Duterte in support to the PNP to provide their needs and [to benefit] their families.” —Jaymee T. Gamil
Comelec tells candidates to report campaign expense
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded all candidates in the recently concluded midterm elections to file their campaign expense report by June 13 or face the risk of being barred from taking office or slapped with administrative charges.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said on Friday that regardless if the candidate won or lost, he or she should file with the poll body’s campaign finance office his statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce).
Under the law, candidates must submit their Soce 30 days after the elections.
Because the last filing day falls on Independence Day, the poll body said it would still accept submissions on June 13.
Jimenez said candidates and political parties must submit three hard copies and an electronic copy of their Soce.
He pointed out that submissions sent through registered mail or courier service would not be accepted. —Jovic Yee
