Sandigan issues hold departure order vs ER Ejercito, 8 others

The Sandiganbayan on Friday issued a hold departure order against disqualified Laguna Gov. Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito and eight other people in connection with a graft case over an anomalous insurance deal in 2008.

On Wednesday, the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) charged Ejercito and eight individuals, namely former Pagsanjan Vice Mayor Crisostomo Vilar and former municipal councilors Arlyn Lazaro-Torres, Terryl Gamit-Talabong, Kalahi Rabago, Erwin Sacluti, Gener Dimaranan and Ronaldo Sablan, with the violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Also named respondent in the case as Marilyn Bruel, the owner of First Rapids Care Ventures (FRCV).

The OSP said Ejercito and other Pangasinan local officials acted “with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and/ or gross inexcusable negligence” when they entered into an agreement with FRCV without public bidding as provided for in Republic Act No. 9184.The OSP also found out that the said company was not licensed by the Insurance Commission to engage in the insurance business.

Ejercito was mayor of Pagsanjan town from 2001 to 2010 before he was disqualified as Laguna governor in 2014 after the Commission on Elections found that he has overspent in his campaign expenses in the 2013 midterm elections. YG, INQUIRER Bandera/RC