DOJ turns over graft case vs Legarda to Ombudsman

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines -The Department of Justice (DOJ) has turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman for action the graft complaint filed against Senator Loren Legarda.

In a letter dated June 6, 2013, the DOJ Action Center under Undersecretary Leah Armamento referred the graft complaint of Louis “Barok” Biraogo against Legarda to the anti-graft body.

Biraogo last May submitted to the DOJ Action Center the graft complaint against Legarda for her failure to include in her statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) her alleged posh Manhattan condominium unit and her ownership of a multi-million peso Balinese-inspired mansion in Forbes Park, the swank village of the rich and famous in Makati.

The DOJ’s action is pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima last March 29, 2012.

The MOA provides that “in case a prosecution office of the DOJ receives a complaint that is cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, it shall immediately endorse the same to the Ombudsman.”

The MOA further states that even if there are multiple respondents and at least one falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, “the entire records of the complaint shall be endorsed to the Ombudsman.”

Under Republic Act 8249 or the law that defines the Sandiganbayan jurisdiction, it has authority over cases filed against members of Congress.