Sandiganbayan denies motion to reinvestigate Ynares’ graft cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has denied the motion filed by former Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares Jr. to reinvestigate the graft cases filed against him.

The resolution from the Sandiganbayan Third Division last May 21 stated that Ynares’ claims were a mere rehash of his previous arguments.

“Accused Ynares and Arcilla insist that the Court should order the reinvestigation of their cases by the Office of the Ombudsman. According to them, if “the pieces of evidence and admissions made before the Court of Appeals are reevaluated and reexamined by the Office of the Ombudsman, it may find that there is no probable cause to indict herein accused,” the anti-graft court said.

“The issue as to the propriety of remanding this case to the Office of the Ombudsman for reinvestigation was already sufficiently passed upon by the Court in its assailed resolution,” it added.

The resolution, which was penned by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, stated that the accused can contest the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to indict them during the trial proper.

The anti-graft court’s Third Division said that “their remedy is not to ask for a reinvestigation of their case” but to “immediately proceed to the trial of the criminal cases.”

Ynares and his other co-accused are facing graft cases for the supply of allegedly overpriced fertilizers worth P3.23 million in 2004 without conducting public bidding.

Ynares filed the motion for reinvestigation last March, but the same division initially denied it. (Editor: Eden Estopace)