We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder
The Sandiganbayan yesterday convicted Janet Lim Napoles of nine counts of corruption of a public official, but acquitted her of plunder over the so-called “pork barrel fund scandal.” Likewise found guilty of nine counts of direct bribery by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division was former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives Partylist Rep. Edgar Valdez. The convictions were in relation to the misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF. Napoles and Valdez were each sentenced to imprisonment of two years and four months up to six years and one day, and were each meted out a fine of P26,996,700. The cases stemmed from the charges of plunder filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman, which alleged that five lawmakers, including Valdez, channeled their PDAFs to Napoles’ fake non-government organizations in exchange for kickbacks. According to the information filed by the Ombudsman, Valdez received P56 million in kickbacks from Napoles. The amount was over the P50-million threshold for the crime of plunder. Lacking evidence Former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, were among the other lawmakers accused of plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam. Revilla was acquitted in 2018 but the cases against the others are still pending before the Sandiganbayan. Enrile, Estrada and Seachon-Lanete were granted bail. The dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan’s ruling said the evidence to prove plunder against Napoles and Valdez was lacking. “The Court finds accused Edgar de Leon Valdez and Janet Lim Napoles not guilty of plunder due to insufficient evidence proving that they had, through conspiracy, amassed, accumulated, and or acquired at least 50 million pesos of PDAF funds through kickbacks and/or commissions,” the decision read in part. Valdez was allowed to post bail in 2016 after the Fifth Division said the prosecution was only able to prove that Valdez received P2.6 million, and not P56 million, in kickbacks from a foundation belonging to Napoles, who was dubbed the “pork barrel queen.” The division rejected Napoles’ request for the court to accept her belatedly filed memorandum that cited whistleblower Benhur Luy’s testimony in a different graft case, where he allegedly acknowledged that the funds in this case were not from PDAF. The 108-page Sandiganbayan decision was per curiam, meaning, not one justice from the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division penned the ruling. The per curiam decision was signed by Associate Justice and Division Chairperson Rafael Lagos, and Associate Justices Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac. Previous acquittals Napoles attended through videoconference, while Valdez was physically present in court on Monday morning. Napoles is currently serving prior convictions. Last May, the Sandiganbayan First Division acquitted Napoles of graft in 16 PDAF cases. Napoles and Revilla were charged with the crimes in 2014. In 2018, the court ruled in favor of Napoles and against Revilla in the plunder case. In 2021, after filing a demurrer to evidence in both graft instances, Revilla was exonerated. The court ruled that the liability of the accused could no longer be determined because they were included in the plunder case for which they were already prosecuted. The charges of plunder against Revilla, his former political officer Atty. Richard Cambe, and Napoles also constituted graft because they were based on “predicate acts,” the court said. The resolution was written by Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg and adopted by Division chairperson Efren dela Cruz and Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio. Same proof “This fact became even more apparent after the presentation of the same testimonial and documentary evidence in both cases,” the resolution read. Those acquitted in that case were Gondelina Amata, Ofelia Ordoez, Sofia Cruz, Evelyn Sucgang, Francisco Figura, Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana, Marivic Jover, Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Victor Roman Cacal and Maria Ninez Guanizo. Dennis Cunanan, Gregoria Buenaventura, Rhodora Mendoza, Evelyn de Leon, Laarni Uy and Jocelyn Piorato were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 to 8 years, and were permanently barred from holding public office. Cambe, Eulogio Rodriguez and Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal had their cases dropped after they passed away. Still another case Napoles was found guilty of two charges of graft and two counts of malversation in another batch of PDAF proceedings involving the late Davao del Sur representative Douglas Cagas. The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division observed in a ruling released on 19 May 2023, that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report corroborated the evidence of whistleblower Luy, who claimed that Napoles owned and controlled the NGOs implicated in the PDAF scam. The post Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sandigan clears QC prosecutor of bribery raps
The Sandiganbayan has cleared former Quezon City Assistant Prosecutor Raul Desembrana of a direct bribery charge arising from his alleged demand of P80,000 in exchange for dismissing a complaint in 2014. In a 39-page decision, the anti-graft court’s Special Fourth Division acquitted Desembrana of bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code for the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The erstwhile prosecutor was accused of direct bribery for allegedly requesting P80,000 from Dr. Alexis Montes and his son Connor, with pending unjust vexation cases before his office filed by a retired military chaplain. According to the prosecution, Desembrana took advantage of his position for the unlawful demand of P80,000 from the Monteses and for receiving P4,000, placed on top of the “boodle money.” The prosecution alleged Desembrana of demanding P80,000 from Monteses’ lawyer, Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of People’s Attorneys, in exchange for withdrawing the case against his clients, which was assigned the Desembrana for preliminary investigation. Further, the prosecution added that Desembrana proposed an arrangement wherein he would issue a favorable draft resolution for the Monteses in return. In 2014, the National Bureau of Investigation set up an entrapment operation at a restaurant inside Quezon Memorial Circle, where they captured Desembrana after he took the P4,000 marked money from Cortez. In exonerating Desembrana, the Sandiganbayan, however, said the prosecution failed to present the P4,000 allegedly used during the entrapment operation as well as the “boodle money” and the white envelope. “The alleged acceptance of the P4,000 by accused Desembrana cannot be reasonably established without the presentation of the original marked money or the object evidence which was allegedly accepted by accused Desembrana,” it said. The Sandiganbayan also took note of Cortez’s testimony that he did not open the white envelope and relied only on the NBI agents’s statement that the mark and the boodle money were inside the envelope. “Hence, contrary to the allegations in the Information, the evidence presented by the prosecution failed to establish that accused Desembrana ‘actually received P4,000 which were placed on top of the “boodle money” from Atty. Ephraim B. Cortez,” it said. The post Sandigan clears QC prosecutor of bribery raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ex-AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia released from NBP
Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the former military comptroller from 1993 until 2004 who was convicted of charges arising from illegal wealth, is now a free man after he was ordered released from the New Bilibid Prison. Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang carried out the order after Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla approved the release of Garcia, whose sentence has been fully served upon computation, including the 3,288 GCTA under RA 10592 or the law granting good conduct time allowance for persons deprived of liberty. Garcia was sentenced by the Sandiganbayan Second Division for four up to eight years in prison for direct bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code; and another four to six years in jail for facilitating money laundering under Section 4 (b) of Republic Act 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering Law). He was also sentenced for a minimum of one year and eight months to maximum of two years and four months for perjury by the anti-graft’s court and maximum of two years for violation of 96th and 97th Article of War by the General Court Martial of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Based on record, Garcia was sentenced to a definite prison term of 18 years and four months, but whose time served with time allowances have already exceeded his maximum sentence, computed based on Republic Act No. 10592. Records also showed that Garcia was received by the NBP on 16 September 2011 but his actual detention started in June 2005. Thus, he has actually served 17 years, five months and eight days in prison. Catapang said there is no longer any legal ground for Garcia to be detained at the NBP after having served his maximum sentence. According to prosecutors, while serving as AFP deputy chief of staff for comptrollership, Garcia acquired funds, real estate and other assets "by receiving commissions, gifts, shares, percentages, kickbacks, or other forms of pecuniary benefits, like shopping money or gratitude money" while handling government contracts. The post Ex-AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia released from NBP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NBI apologizes over provocative dance number during conference
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday apologized for an incident involving a provocative dance number during its command conference last June 30 and vowed to carry out sanctions. NBI Director Medardo de Lemos explained that the dancers performed at the end of the command conference, during a fellowship program where […] The post NBI apologizes over provocative dance number during conference appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
NBI apologizes over ‘scandalous’ NBI event
National Bureau of Investigation director Medardo de Lemos on Friday issued an apology for “any offense caused, particularly to women” regarding the inclusion of a scantily-clad dancer during the recent mid-year command conference of the NBI. The NBI chief assured the public that such incidents would not occur again. “I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by the incident. We will ensure that it does not happen again. We have great respect for women,” De Lemos stated. He added that a formal investigation is currently underway to identify those responsible. The NBI chief also refuted allegations that public funds were utilized to finance the performance of entertainers as he asserted that the event’s expenses were covered through contributions from officials and agents. To recall, NBI officials convened at Manila’s Diamond Hotel for their Mid-Year Command Conference last week which featured various forms of entertainment, including a performance by a dancer dressed in revealing attire. The post NBI apologizes over ‘scandalous’ NBI event appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
De Lima co-accused ordered transferred to Munti jail
The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday disclosed that it has ordered the transfer of Jose Adrian “Jad” Tamson Dera — a co-accused of former Senator Leila de Lima in a drug case — from the National Bureau of Investigation detention cell in Manila to the Muntinlupa City jail. Judge Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara of the Muntinlupa RTC issued the order on a petition filed by the NBI as he also granted the motion of the NBI for Dera to attend the 5 July 2023 hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights “on the alleged unauthorized trips of said accused outside the NBI Detention Facility.” “Accordingly, the Chief of the Security Management Section, the NBI, is directed to turn over the body of the living person of accused Jose Adrian Dera y Tamson to the Muntinlupa City Jail Male Dormitory, Tunasan, Muntinlupa City who is ordered to take custody of said accused during the pendency of the case and until further orders from the Court,” the RTC’s order stated. The court also ordered to bring accused Dera to the Senate hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights with security escorts and upon proper coordination with the appropriate office of the said committee. To recall, Dera and six security personnel are facing a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice. They were arrested last 21 June while returning to the NBI detention facility in Manila after having gone out. Charges were filed against them for bribery, corruption of public official, infidelity in the custody of prisoner, and graft and corruption. The complaint though has yet to be resolved by the DOJ panel of prosecutors. Meantime, Dera on Wednesday admitted to senators that he was able to leave the NBI facility several times during the Senate justice and human rights investigation. According to Dera, he was able to leave the NBI’s detention facility on 20 January 2022 to have himself checked in a hospital in Manila. This was authorized by a court order dated 10 December 2021. He added that he was able to leave the detention facility for the second time to go to another hospital and have his heart checked, but this time he had no approval from the court. The third time that he was able to leave the NBI was on Father’s Day this year and the fourth time was on 20 June, reportedly for a date, where he and five NBI jail guards were nabbed. But during Senator Francis Tolentino’s interpellation, Dera also confirmed claims that he was also able to Calatagan, Batangas but he said he cannot recall the exact date. He also admitted going to Tagaytay City with other NBI officers. Dera, however, denied going to Subic contrary to some reports. WITH LADE JEAN KABAGANI The post De Lima co-accused ordered transferred to Munti jail appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clavano apologizes for faux pas vs Bantag
Justice assistant secretary and spokesman Atty. Mico Clavano yesterday apologized and corrected his earlier statement that one of the major reasons authorities could not arrest former Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Q. Bantag was due to his police connections. Clavano in a message said, “I apologize for any confusion my earlier statement may have caused. I would like to correct my error and clarify that Mr. Bantag did not serve in the Philippine National Police, but rather graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy.” He added, “I regret any confusion this may have caused and hope this clarification clears up any misunderstanding.” The DoJ official previously acknowledged the complexity of apprehending Bantag due to his connections within the police force and other law enforcement agencies. Yesterday, the Philippine National Police apparently took offense to the statement of Clavano that one of the major reasons why Bantag could not be easily arrested is his police connections. Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, PNP chief public information officer, said Bantag has never joined the police organization and as such, has never been a police officer — contradicting the DoJ spokesman’s statement that Bantag “is a police officer.” “The Philippine National Police would like to clarify that Mr. Gerald Bantag has never been a member of the Philippine National Police, based on record, he used to be a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officer before his appointment in Bureau of Corrections,” said Maranan in a statement. While Bantag graduated from the PNP Academy, he chose to be in the BJMP after his graduation in 1996. Graduates of the PNPA have the option to choose among the PNP, BJMP and the Bureau of Fire Protection after their graduation. The DoJ has offered P2-million reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of Bantag who was charged with murder for the death of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison. A P1-million reward was also offered to his then deputy, Ricardo Zulueta. Clavano was quoted saying that Bantag’s police connections makes his arrest tricky, Maranan said the PNP remains committed to its task of enforcing the law, including arresting fugitives from justice. “We want to emphasize that irrespective of one’s rank, stature, or source of commissionship of any officer; the PNP will arrest any individual who has violated the law. The achievements of our police tracker teams exemplify our record in arresting wanted persons,” Maranan said. The post Clavano apologizes for faux pas vs Bantag appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI apologizes for lengthy interviews, says human trafficking of young workers on the rise
The bureau explained that it has noted a rise in the number of young professionals – even “those with good travel records, gainfully employed and are graduates of good schools” – being deceived by cryptocurrency scams abroad that advertise false promises of high salaries. .....»»
DOJ fires 18 immigration personnel in pastillas scam
MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ on Friday ordered the dismissal of 18 officers and employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after they were found administratively liable in relation to the so called "pastillas" bribery scheme.DOJ Assistant Secretary Neal Bainto said the 18 were fo.....»»
EDITORIAL - Return to pastillas?
Are they again accepting grease money folded like the popular local milk pastries called pastillas? This is the question on many people’s minds following reports that 84 officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration implicated in a bribery scandal had returned to work......»»
Giving POGOs a bad name
Before the pandemic hit, the Senate had been in the thick of an investigation linking POGOs, short for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, to various criminal acts, including bribery or the pastillas scheme at the Bureau of Immigration, prostitution, kidnapping, robbery-hold-ups, etc. .....»»
Immigration says fact-finding probe looking into trafficking of Filipino women to Syria
The Bureau of Immigration has rolled out a full blown investigation into the outbound trafficking of 44 Filipino women to Syria, another racket linked to the pastillas bribery scheme hounding the agency......»»
Syndicate behind ‘pastillas’ scheme linked to trafficking of Filipino women to Syria
The alleged masterminds behind the pastillas bribery scheme at the Bureau of Immigration have been linked to another racket — the outbound trafficking of Filipino women......»»
BIR chief apologizes for skipping budget hearing
Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay has apologized to the House of Representatives for skipping the hearing last week on the proposed BIR budget for next year......»»
NBI official, Immigration officer bro charged for alleged extortion in pastillas scheme probe
The Department of Justice charged National Bureau of Investigation official Joshua Capiral and his brother, Immigration Officer Christopher, for alleged extortion to clear people in probes into bribery at the Bureau of Immigration......»»
BI welcomes arrest of NBI exec involved in bribery
BY JUN RAMIREZ Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente has welcomed the arrest of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official for alleged bribery and extortion. “We welcome the entrapment of the NBI official who was allegedly fixing cases of those involved in the pastillas scheme. “This is a result of […].....»»
NBI official arrested over bribery allegations for clearance in pastillas scheme probe
The National Bureau of Investigation arrested their colleague for alleged bribery and corruption in clearing Bureau of Immigration personnel from their probe into the “pastillas” scheme......»»
19 Immigration officers, personnel face graft raps over pastillas bribery scheme
The National Bureau of Investigation filed graft complaints against 19 officers and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration over a money-making scheme to facilitate entry of Chinese nationals into the Philippines, which came to be known as the "pastillas" scheme......»»
MLB season begins
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers take center stage on Thursday as Major League Baseball’s new season gets under way on US soil against the backdrop of a gambling scandal that has engulfed its brightest star......»»
Digital TIN IDs issued reaches 100,000
he Bureau of Internal Revenue has issued 100,000 tax identification number IDs in digital form as more Filipinos opt out from lining up at district offices......»»