Roberto Ongpin hits government move to pin him down

Roberto Ongpin

Former Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin on Thursday urged the Sandiganbayan to stand firm on its ruling clearing him of civil liability in the operation of the so-called Binondo central bank in the 1980s, as he challenged the government’s claim the decision was defective.

In an opposition filed by his lawyer Thursday, Ongpin said the government’s contention that the antigraft court’s ruling was handed down too early, before several defendants could present their evidence, did not apply to him since he had finished presenting his own evidence separately.

Ongpin noted that the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division had issued an order in 2009 stating that his case had been submitted for decision.

His codefendants in the civil case were the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the latter’s right-hand man Fabian Ver, former first lady Imelda Marcos, and Ver’s children Irwin Ver, Rexor Ver, Wyrlo Ver, Helma Ver Tuason and Faida Ver Resurreccion. Also charged were Edna Camcam, Jimmy Chua, Go Pok, Catalino Coo, Raffy Chua, Peter Uy, Benito Peñalosa, Sio Lim, Wilson Chua, Balbino Diego, Arturo Pacificador, Sally See and Vinnie James Uy.

The Binondo central bank served as an underground dollar market in the 1980s, and several officials of the Marcos administration allegedly manipulated the trade in dollars through it.

Ongpin also opposed the government’s plea for the antigraft court to reopen the case and receive additional evidence.