Abalos, Neri to be tried separately in ZTE case
By Charlie V. Manalo 06/19/2010 Former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and former National Economic Development Authority Director General Romulo Neri will be tried separately by two different divisions of the Sandiganbayan in connection with the NBN-ZTE deal scandal. This, after the anti-graft court raffled off the case, with Abalos landing with the 4th Division headed by Chairman Gregory Ong and Neri with the 5th Division headed by Justice Roland Jurado. In a 17-page joint order last May 2010, the Ombudsman recommended the filing of information against Abalos and Neri for violating Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code. It, however, cleared President Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, of any liability in the botched NBN-ZTE deal. The Ombudsman took the view that Abalos and Neri failed to present sufficient evidence to warrant the reversal of its earlier ruling in August 2009. It found probable cause against Abalos and Neri said they should be charged before the court and be held for trial. Aside from the criminal case, Neri alone was suspended for a period of six months without pay for an administrative liability. His appeal was denied for lack of merit. Abalos was also indicted on a separate case of corruption of public officials for offering Neri a P200-million bribe. But Abalos yesterday insisted on his innocence, saying he is just “a victim of vilification campaign.” According to Abalos, he is a victim of a vilification campaign as he pointed out that “the mere execution by a purported witness of an affidavit is not sufficient to support a charge.” Source: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100619hed2.html |
0 comments
Post a Comment