Arrest warrant out vs JV Ejercito over technical malversation
Sen. JV Ejercito. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
The Sandiganbayan has issued an arrest warrant against Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito in connection with his technical malversation charge over the alleged anomalous use of P2.1 million calamity funds when he was San Juan mayor in 2008.
In a resolution promulgated last Monday, the anti-graft court Sixth Division found probable cause against Ejercito and outgoing San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora to try them for technical malversation.
Ejercito, Zamora and the other city councilors were charged with technical malversation for allowing the issuance of an ordinance to allow the use of the calamity funds for high-powered firearms. Zamora was then a councilor.
READ: JV Ejercito, San Juan VM Zamora face graft raps over P2.1-M gun deal
The court said it found probable cause after perusing through the motions for judicial determination of probable cause filed by all the accused.
Article continues after this advertisement“The Court finds that the grounds raised by the herein accused in support of their assertions in their motions that there was no probable cause to indict them for technical malversation in the procurement of subject firearms… are but matters of defense that are best addressed during the trial of this case,” the court said.
Article continues after this advertisement“Let warrant of arrest be issued against all the accused,” it added.
Zamora before noon posted his P6,000 bail for technical malversation.
Confident of acquital
Ejercito, meanwhile, said he will post bail at the Sandiganbayan Wednesday afternoon.
“Nabalitaan ko na mayroon ng warrant na inissue sa akin ang Sandiganbayan so after nito ako ay pupunta na d’un para magbayad ng aking piyansa,” Ejercito told reporters.
(I heard that the Sandiganbayan has already issued a warrant of arrest against me, so after this, I will go there to pay my bail.)
“P6,000 lang naman so buti na lang medyo maliit lang kaya pwede na akong dumeretso sa (Sandiganbayan).”
(It’s just P6,000. Good thing, it’s a small amount, so I can go there immediately.)
Ejercito said he would submit himself to the justice system, confident that he would be acquitted of the case.
“Personally, I’m submitting myself to the justice system and I’m confident that the Sandiganbayan justices will be very fair,” he said.
“Optomistic naman ako at very positive that I will be acquitted of this case.”
As an opposition mayor at that time, Ejercito said he was “extra careful.”
The senator also insisted that he did not commit any crime or mistake when he was mayor.
“Isa pa ay hindi ko naman sisirain ang pangalan ko para sa P2 million transaction or any amount for that matter,” Ejercito added.
(Besides, I would not destroy my name for a P2-million transaction or any amount for that matter.)
Graft in Fifth Division
In the Fifth Division, Ejercito was also charged with graft over the alleged anomalous purchase of high-powered rifles worth P2.1 million using calamity funds when he was San Juan mayor in 2008.
He has posted his P30,000 bail for the graft charge.
READ: JV Ejercito posts bail for graft charge
According to the information, Ejercito conspired with other city officials to purchase high-powered firearms in February 2008 using the city’s calamity fund as “investment for disaster preparedness.”
The city council then passed a city ordinance allowing Ejercito to buy the firearms for the city’s police department.
Ejercito approved the purchase although the city was not under a state of calamity when the purchase was made.
The firearms bought using the city’s calamity fund include: three units of model K2 cal. 5.56mm sub-machine guns and 17 units of Daewoo model K1 cal. 5.56 mm sub-machine guns.
The purchase of the firearms was done with haste without “competitive bidding and without any post-qualification, bolstered by bid documents bearing dates earlier than the publication of the invitation to bid, showing that an unwarranted benefit, advantage and preference was accorded to the supplier,” the prosecutors said.
The Ombudsman cited the joint circular between the Departments of Budget and Management as well as of Interior and Local Government which did not include high-powered firearms among the items needed for disaster relief and mitigation.
Ejercito will serve as senator until 2019.
Ejercito has pointed at his political rival Zamora as being behind the graft rap. Zamora just lost his mayoralty bid to reelected San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, who is Ejercito’s mother. RAM/IDL
