Sandigan suspends proceedings in case vs ex-Pasay City officials

The Sandiganbayan has deferred its proceedings in the criminal case against former Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad and other city officials allegedly involved in the questionable bidding for the construction of the P500-million Pasay City Mall and Market in 2004.

The antigraft court’s First Division allowed Trinidad to file a motion for reconsideration in the Office of the Ombudsman, and directed the latter to resolve his pleading and that of his co-accused within 30 days.

But the court denied the plea of former city councilor Jose Antonio Roxas to recall his arrest warrant and for judicial determination of probable cause for lack of merit.

Wenceslao, Roxas and bids and awards committee (BAC) representatives Joselito Manabat and Alexander Ramos were earlier charged with violation of the antigraft law in relation to the government procurement reform act, and of the Revised Penal Code provision against exercising duties beyond the required period.

The Sandiganbayan said it was allowing Trinidad to file a motion for reconsideration in the Office of the Ombudsman to allow him to exercise his right to a full preliminary investigation.

Trinidad earlier contended that he was denied his right to due process when the Ombudsman filed the charges against him in court before the lapse of the five-day period within which he is allowed to file a motion for reconsideration.