Plunder of PCSO

Arrested former COA chief Reynaldo Villar refuses to answer queries from the media as he left the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame for Sandiganbayan where he filed a petition for bail on Friday, April 25, 2014. Villar is facing plunder charges for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Former Commission on Audit (COA) Chair Reynaldo Villar is hoping to be granted bail in his plunder case, which stemmed from his role in the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.

Villar, one of the coaccused of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was brought to the Sandiganbayan yesterday following his arrest in Parañaque on Thursday night. He was joined by his lawyers Rene Saguisag and Junjie Altamira.

In an ambush interview, Villar told reporters he was hoping his plea for temporary liberty while the case is on trial would be approved.

Arraignment

In an urgent omnibus motion filed through his lawyers, Villar asked the court to set his bail hearing at the soonest possible time. He also asked for his continued detention at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) custodial center.

He is set to be arraigned on April 30.

Villar, however, said he was confident there would be little evidence to pin him down.

“Accused is confident that regardless of the evidence that have already been presented or even any evidence that may be presented by the competition, the evidence of guilt against the accused is not, and cannot by any legal measure, be strong,” he said.

Plunder is a nonbailable offense, but the court has granted bail to some accused when the evidence against them was found to be weak.

In seeking to be detained at the CIDG custodial center, Villar said his age and the stresses he currently face meant he might require access to medical attention quickly.

He pointed out that the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital was just a few meters away from the custodial center.

“Accused is already 72 years old and, with the current shock and severe physical and mental strain brought about by his present circumstances, the likelihood that he may require immediate medical attention is always present,” he said.

He further said he had served the government for over three decades “with dedication and fidelity,” and as such deserves the modicum of respect and compassion that his detention at the custodial center would give him.

Villar was also a member of the 1971 Constitutional Commission and served as provincial board member of Pangasinan. He served in the COA from 1988 to 2011, where he rose from the ranks.

The PNP brought Villar, who was in handcuffs and dark glasses, to the Sandiganbayan yesterday afternoon for processing after his arrest warrant was served.

A group of COA employees came to see him to wish him well and to show their support for him. They said he had been a good boss to them, and was friendly and accessible.

The Ombudsman earlier ordered the filing of a plunder charge against Villar for allegedly conniving with former President Arroyo and several others for the misuse of the PCSO funds. At the time of the questioned transactions, he headed the COA, the agency tasked with scrutinizing the use of public funds. Leila B. Salaverria

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