Sandigan divisions to hear 2nd batch of ‘pork’ scam cases identified

Sandiganbayan. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Sandiganbayan on Friday raffled off the second batch of pork barrel scam cases to their respective divisions.

The plunder charge against former Masbate Representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete was raffled off to the 4th Division while the one against former APEC party-list Representative Edgar Valdez went to the 5th Division.

The 4th Division is chaired by Associate Justice Jose Hernandez with Associate Justices Alex Quiroz and Oscar Herrera Jr. as members. The 5th Division, which is also hearing the pork barrel scam case of detained senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, is chaired by Associate Justice Roland Jurado with members Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Gomez-Estoesta.

Meanwhile, the malversation rap against former Agusan del Sur Representative Rodolfo Plaza was raffled off to the 2nd Division, against former Benguet Representative Samuel Dangwa to the 3rd Division, and against former Cagayan de Oro City Representative Constantino Jaraula to the 1st Division.

The 2nd Division is chaired by Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos with members Associate Justices Napoleon Inoturan and Maria Cristina Cornejo.

The 3rd Division, which is hearing the pork scam case of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, is chaired by Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang with member Associate Justice Samuel Martires (the division has one vacant position).

The 1st Division, hearing the case of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., is chaired by Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz with members Associate Justices Rodolfo Ponferrada and Rafael Lagos.

Accused pork barrel scam mastermind Napoles is a respondent to all cases in the second batch.

Lanete, incumbent Masbate governor, and Valdez are charged with plunder for allegedly pocketing P108.405 million and P57.787 million in kickbacks, respectively, from their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) transactions from 2004 to 2010.

Meanwhile, the others face malversation, direct bribery, and other graft and corrupt practices for allegedly pocketing the following kickbacks: Plaza (P26.7 million), Dangwa (P42.1 million), and Jaraula (P20.8 million) in PDAF.

The lawmakers, the respondents in the second batch of PDAF scam cases, were accused of spending their PDAF to fund ghost agricultural and livelihood projects linked to Napoles from 2007 to 2009.

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