Graft arraignment of ex-Palawan governor Reyes re-set to April

Former Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes’ mugshot for another case, the murder of environmental activist Gerry Ortega (PHOTO FROM PNP)

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has postponed the arraignment of detained former Palawan Governor Mario Joel Reyes for graft until April 4.

During the scheduled hearing on Tuesday, the court’s Fifth Division cited the pending motion to quash filed by his co-accused Department of Agriculture regional technical director Rodolfo Guieb and adopted by another co-accused, DA regional executive director Dennis Araullo.

“Considering there is a pending incident… the arraignment of the accused is cancelled and reset to April 4,” acting chairman Justice Rafael Lagos said during the hearing.

Reyes, Guieb and Araullo, along with Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc. (MAMFI) officers Marina Sula and Nathaniel Tan, were accused of misusing a P3.25-million allocation under the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program in 2004.

The former governor is currently detained at the Puerto Princesa City Jail pending trial for the 2011 murder of environmentalist broadcaster Gerry Ortega.  SFM