SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – The anti-graft court on Monday, June 16, issued a hold departure order (HDO) against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Janet Lim Napoles and 12 other accused in graft and plunder cases.
In a one-page order, the Sandiganbayan’s 5th division issued the HDO against the following:
Senator Jinggoy Estrada
Pauline Labayen
Mario Relampagos
Rosario Nuñez
Lalaine Paule
Marilou Bare
Allan Javellana
Rhodora Mendoza
Maria Julie Villaralvo-Johnson
Victor Roman Cacal
Maria Ninez Guañizo
Romulo Relevo
Janet Lim-Napoles
John Raymund De Asis
Napoles, De Asis and Labayen are Estrada’s co-accused in the plunder case filed against him. The rest, including Budget Secretary Mario Relampagos and former National Agri-Business Corporation president Allan Javellana, are charged in separate graft cases in connection with the misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or what is commonly referred to as pork barrel.
The 5th division, headed by Justice Roland B. Jurado, is handling the graft and plunder charges filed against the 13. The other member of the division is Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo; it has one vacant seat.
Two other divisions are handling other PDAF-related cases. The cases against Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr were assigned to the 1st division, while the cases against Senator Juan Ponce Enrile were assigned to the 3rd division.
As of 4 pm, the court’s other divisions have not issued any HDO against Enrile and Revilla.
On June 13, the anti-graft court raffled the cases of the 3 senators and their co-accused to these divisions in the Sandiganbayan – the start of what could be the biggest corruption trial in the recent history of the anti-graft court. (READ: Get to know the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan)
These divisions are expected to decide soon on whether or not the plunder and graft charges can stand in court. If they rule that probable cause exists in these cases, warrants of arrest will be issued against the accused. Plunder, which the 3 senators are charged with, is a non-bailable offense. – Rappler.com
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