For being ‘poor’ and ‘ordinary,’ DBM execs in pork scam seek bail discount

Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—For being “poor and ordinary employees,” Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and three personnel filed a motion to reduce their bail for their graft charges over the pork barrel scam.

On Monday, the budget personnel filed a motion before the anti-graft court third division, which is hearing the case of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. The division has yet to find probable cause against the veteran lawmaker.

Relampagos and staffers Rosario Nunez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare were charged with 15 counts of graft before the third division, 16 counts of graft before the first division, and 11 counts of graft before the fifth division. They are the co-accused of Senators Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.

In total, they would need to pay P450,000 each, or for all of them, an aggregate amount of P5,040,000 in bail, before the third division for their 15 counts of graft.

“(It is) a very huge amount. They are only poor and ordinary employees of the Department of Budget and Management,” the motion read.

Their motion said the bail for each count should be reduced to P5,000 from the usual P30,000.

This means they are requesting to reduce their total bail each to P75,000 from P450,000.

On Friday, they were given a 50-percent discount by the first division so each paid P240,000 for 16 counts of graft.

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