THE Sandiganbayan Fourth Division yesterday slapped a 90-day suspension against Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) Administrator Nereus Acosta over alleged improper disbursement of his pork barrel funds when he was still a congressman of Bukidnon.
The court suspended Acosta despite his position that he could not be suspended from the post because he was a presidential appointee and a member of the Cabinet thus, suspending him was tantamount to suspending the President.
On Thursday, Acosta and his mother, former Manolo Fortich municipal Mayor Socorro Acosta have asked the anti-graft court to junk a motion by his aunt Ma. Nemia Bornidor seeking deferment of the trial to give the Office of the Ombudsman time to decide on her offer to turn state witness.
In their six-page opposition, the Acostas argued that allowing a deferment would violate their constitutional right to a speedy disposition of their cases.
The two and Bornidor stand charged in three counts of graft concerning alleged fraudulent disbursement of P10.5 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) when he was a member of the House of Representatives. Ryan Ponce Pacpaco
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 133
By : Jester Manalastas
AN arrest warrant against former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca was issued yesterday after the Sandiganbayan 5th Division found probable cause in the graft and malversation cases filed against her. Associate Justice Ronald Jurado signed the warrant of arrest. Padaca was allowed to post bail of P40,000 for malversation and P30,000... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 124
By : Marlon Purificacion
ARE you arresting me? Ito umano ang tanong ni Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona nang harangin ni Senate Sergeant-At-Arms ret. Gen. Jose Balajadja matapos magtangkang mag-walk-out Martes ng hapon. Inilahad ni Balajadja sa Senate media ang naging karanasan nito matapos harangin ang tangkang ‘pagtakas’ ni Corona. “I wanted to show... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 111
By : Hector Lawas
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona failed to appear in yesterday’s continuation of his impeachment trial after suffering a possible heart attack. Supreme Court spokesman and concurrent Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Corona was rushed to The Medical City in Pasig City Tuesday night and was later wheeled into the intensive... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 104
RETIRED Justice Serafin Cuevas, the lead counsel of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, dismissed speculations that the embattled Supreme Court head is preparing for a “mistrial” as he expressed confidence that his client will be acquitted of the charges against him. “Tingnan n’yo, hindi galing sa amin ‘yan,” Cuevas... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 130
PATHETIC. This was how Sen.Franklin Drilon described the supposed “game-plan” of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona allowing concerned agencies to scrutinize his dollar accounts on condition that those who had filed the impeachment case against him also sign a waiver on their dollar deposits. Corona stunned the Senate,... Read more
