Out on bail, Nereus Acosta cries harassment

Nereus Acosta. Photo from comelec.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Nereus Acosta on Thursday said political harassment and vested interests were behind the perjury case that prompted the Sandiganbayan to order his and his mother’s arrest on Wednesday.

Acosta issued this statement a day after he posted a P6,000 bail, immediately after the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division junked their appeal. His mother was “in the process” of doing the same at a regional trial court in Bukidnon.

In his statement, Acosta questioned how a perjury case was filed against him when the original complainant, Fr. Venancio Balansag, had already desisted or withdrawn the graft complaint on which the perjury case was based.

“It is with disbelief that a perjury case was filed against me even if the complainant has already desisted. I can only surmise that the warrant of arrest issued in relation to this case is political harassment and is motivated by vested interests,” Acosta said.

Lou Parungao, Acosta’s counsel, told the Inquirer in a phone interview that the warrant of arrest against his client and his mother, Socorro, was put into effect on Wednesday when the Fifth Division junked their motion for reconsideration of a resolution that found probable cause for the filing of the charges, and their motion to hold in abeyance the release of the warrant.

Parungao said he was studying whether to question the resolution that found probable cause for the filing of the perjury charges against Acosta before the Supreme Court.

“Under the legal procedure, there are remedies available to (Acosta) … We first addressed (the posting of the bail) so that he would not be arrested,” he said.

The case of Socorro was being handled by another lawyer, Parungao added.

Acosta gave his assurance that he would obey any directive emanating from the Sandiganbayan or any court, although he vowed to exhaust all legal means to put the matter to rest.

The case stemmed from the alleged irregular transfer of some P5.5 million from Acosta’s pork barrel allocation to the Bukidnon Vegetable Producers Cooperative, a private company owned by the Acosta family, when he was a member of the House of Representatives six years ago. At the time, his mother was mayor of Manolo Fortich.

In their counter-affidavits, the two said that the transfer had the approval of the Sangguniang Bayan of Manolo Fortich.

Originally posted at 02:55 pm | Thursday, April 18, 2013