PIMENTEL ADMINISTERS OATH TO NEW S.E.N.A.D.O. OFFICERS: Senate President Koko Pimentel (8th from right) administers the oath of office to the newly elected officers of the Samahan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa Sa Adhikain Ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (S.E.N.A.D.O.), Tuesday, October 18, 2016. In photo are (from left), Pedro Tolentino, Jun Nicolas, Jr., Joseph Maico, Ollie Sulit, Ditas Ampa, Jocelyn Tomarong Celda, Atty. Joseph Babia (President), Joyce Dela Cruz, Maryjane Uskaner, Caloy Begino, Daks Millamena (Vice-President), Pedro Samaniego, and Roger Pacete. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Oct 19 (Mabuhay) – State prosecutors have asked Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to explain the delay in implementing the suspension order against Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito in connection with his pending graft trial.
In a motion submitted to the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, state prosecutors also asked the office of San Juan City mayor Guia Gomez to explain why it has yet to suspend city administrator Ranulfo Barte Dacalos and City Legal Officer Romualdo Corpuz Delos Santos, who are among Ejercito’s co-accused in the case.
State prosecutors argued that the August 22 resolution of the Sandiganbayan on Ejercito and his co-accused’s suspension has become final and executory since the Supreme Court has also not issued a writ of preliminary injunction in response to the writ of certiorari filed by the senator and his co-accused.
They also noted that none of the accused have filed a motion for reconsideration to appeal the court’s decision.
The Sandiganbayan ordered the suspension of Ejercito and his two co-accused for 90 days in connection with the graft case they are facing over the the allegedly anomalous purchase of firearms in 2008.
Despite the finality of the Sandiganbayan’s suspension order, state prosecutors said they have yet to receive notices from the offices of Pimentel and Gomez that the three officials have already been suspended.
Pimentel informed the Sandiganbayan in a letter sent late August that the suspension order was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday after the hearing for his travel motion, Ejercito said Pimentel is still awaiting developments regarding the demurrer of evidence he has filed before the Sandiganbayan.
“The Senate President is waiting for the result on the demurrer. It (the decision) will depend on that,” he said.
A demurrer to evidence seeks the dismissal of the case halfway through the trial based solely on the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Ejercito said the suspension order against him will become moot and academic if the anti-graft court grants his demurrer to evidence. (MNS)