Sandiganbayan issues hold departure order vs. Estrada, co-accused

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –The Sandiganbayan fifth division on Monday issued hold departure orders against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his co-accused for the plunder and graft cases in connection to the pork barrel scam.

Estrada’s co-accused in his plunder case who were also issued an HDO are Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the scam; John Raymund De Asis, Napoles’ employee; and Pauline Labayen, who is Estrada’s former deputy chief of staff.

Estrada’s co-accused in the graft case, meanwhile, are Labayen; Napoles; De Asis; Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos; Allan Javellana, former president of National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor); Antonio Ortiz and Dennis Cunanan, who are former directors general of the Technology Resource Center (TRC); Gondelina Amata, president of the National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC); Nabcor employees Rodhora Mendoza, Victor Cacal, Romulo Relevo, Maria. Ninez Guanizo, Maria Julie Villarolvo-Johnson; NLDC employees Emmanuel Sevidal, Sofia Cruz, Chita Jalandoni, Evelyn Sucgang, Gregoria Buenaventura; TRC employees Marivic Jover and Francisco Figura; Rosario Nunez; Lalaine Paule; Marilou Bare; Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana; and Consuelo Lilian Espiritu.

“The court, in the exercise of its inherent power to use all means necessary to carry its orders into effect… hereby order the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold the departure from the Philippines of the above-named accused and to include the names of said accused in the Hold Departure List…” the order read.

Senators Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr. face plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

The Ombudsman said it found probable cause to indict Revilla with one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft; Enrile with one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft; and Estrada with one count of plunder and 11 counts of graft.

Also charged was alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

The pork barrel scam is an elaborate scheme of allegedly diverting billions of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to ghost projects for kickbacks.

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