Ex-PCSO officials Valencia, Aguas enter not-guilty pleas in plunder case

(L) Former PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia and PCSO assistant manager for finance Benigno Aguas. KAREN BONCOCAN/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Two of the co-accused the plunder case filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several other officials on Monday entered pleas of not guilty at the Sandiganbayan First Division.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman Sergio Valencia and PCSO assistant manager for finance Benigno Aguas were in handcuffs when they were brought by policemen to the anti-graft court before their arraignment.

Justice Efren dela Cruz, chairperson of the Sandiganbayan First Division, set the preliminary conference for Valencia and Aguas on October 29 at 2 p.m.

The two PCSO officials surrendered to the authorities upon learning of the anti-graft court’s issuance of arrest orders on Arroyo and nine others in connection with the alleged misuse of P366 million worth of PCSO intelligence funds.

Arroyo and PCSO director Manuel Morato’s arraignment were meanwhile reset on October 29 at 8:30 a.m.