Junie insists: No warrant served on Clavel

FORMER Cebu 4th District Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez has not been served the warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan in connection with the graft case filed against her in 2003, her husband Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. said.

Mayor Martinez, who was in the Capitol yesterday morning, was irked when reporters questioned him on the status of the warrant.

He said they only knew about the warrant from the media. Even his wife whom he said is in Manila did not receive a copy of the warrant.

Mayor Martinez branded the report as mere propaganda allegedly hatched by the Salimbangons, their political rivals in the fourth district.

“You know you’re very unfair to us that’s why I won’t bother to answer. That was just a propaganda of the Salimbangons,” he said.

Should the warrant gets served, Mayor Martinez said they can “always post bail” and appeal the decision.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division has recommended P40,000 bail for the graft case while no bail was recommended for the malversation case.

“Mrs. Martinez is in Manila that’s why we’re surpised. Anyway, there are still other legal remedies so nothing is final yet,” he said.

The graft case against former congresswoman Martinez and six others stemmed from allegations that a P10 million allocation for the Girl Scout of Philippines (GSP) anti-drug campaign was deposited in her personal account.

Others named respondents were: Clavel’s son, former Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III; her daughter and former GSP treasurer Ma. Cielo Martinez; municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez; municipal accountant Cresencio Verdida; bookkeeper Rhodariza Kilantang and GSP Cebu Council cashier Julieta Quino.

The Office of the Ombudsman indicted them for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and corrupt practices act and malversation of public funds.