Ex-PCGG chair Sabio faces Sandiganbayan on Monday

MANILA, Philippines — Former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chair Camilo Sabio will be presented to the Sandiganbayan on Monday following his arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation last Friday for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The NBI said Sabio was arrested at his home in Quezon City based on a warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in relation to the execution of judgment in one of the criminal cases filed against him pending before the antigraft body.

Sabio was brought to the NBI office in Manila for booking procedures.

In December 2016, the Office of the Ombudsman slapped Sabio with two counts of graft for trying to influence the decision of his brother, former Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio Jr., in a case filed by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) against the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in 2008.

According to the prosecutors, Sabio agreed to GSIS board member Jesus Santos’ request to convince his younger brother Jose to block a temporary restraining order to be issued against the GSIS. Sabio later allegedly “suggested” to his brother, who was the chair of the CA division that handled the case, to help the GSIS.

In January this year, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division denied Sabio’s motion for reconsideration on the case and issued a warrant for his arrest.

The Sandiganbayan found Sabio guilty for entertaining Santos’ call and allowing himself to be influenced, but he was acquitted for trying to persuade his brother since the latter ruled in favor of Meralco.

—Meg Adonis and Inquirer Research