ER Ejercito posts bail

Jeorge “ER” Ejercito. Photo from SCENEMA CONCEPT INTERNATIONAL INC./CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

WITH a hep-lock in his left hand, dismissed Laguna Gov. Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito posted bail at the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday to avoid arrest for skipping his arraignment on Monday.

Ejercito posted bail of P30,000 in cash for his graft case over an insurance coverage extended to tourists and boatmen in 2008 when he was mayor of Pagsanjan.

The actor-governor, who is seeking reelection, left after posting bail. He was seen with a hep-lock, which is used to administer fluids or medicines intravenously to hospital patients.

On Monday, his lawyer explained his absence at his arrangement at the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division saying Ejercito was confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City since Sunday for pneumonia symptoms.

The court cancelled the P30,000 bail he posted last month and issued a new arrest warrant, which was reportedly served by policemen at his hospital room around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Ombudsman last month charged Ejercito, seven other Pagsanjan officials and a private contractor with graft for the insurance service agreement that the municipal government entered into First Rapids Care Ventures.