CA affirms junking of Philcomsat case

The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed a Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution dismissing the P122-million estafa case filed against the officials of Philcomsat Holdings Corporation (PHC), Philcomsat and the Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (POTC).

In a two-page resolution made public on Monday, the special third division of the appeals court said PHC, through Erlinda Ilusorio-Bildner, failed to raise new issues that would warrant a reversal of their March 29, 2016, decision.

“A perusal of the motion for reconsideration filed by petitioner of the Court’s decision promulgated on March 29, 2016, shows that the issues raised and arguments in support thereof have already been given due consideration and resolved,” the CA resolution penned by Associate Justice Myra V. Garcia-Fernandez said.

“Thus, this court finds no new or substantial matters to justify a modification or reversal of the assailed decision,” the court added.

The case for estafa was filed by Bildner against Enrique L. Locsin, Philip G. Brodett, Benito V. Araneta, Luis K. Lokin Jr., Manuel D. Antal, Julio Jalandoni and Guy De Leon. She alleged that the respondents misrepresented themselves to the public that they were members of the board of directors of PHC, Philcomsat and POTC.

Due to the misrepresentation the respondents were able to allegedly siphon out PHC’s corporate funds in various forms from 2003 to 2007 worth P122,199,459 which were booked under “advances to affiliates” even as the funds were never credited to POTC or Philcomsat, Bildner said.