In a chance interview, Sandiganbayan Third Division clerk of court Dennis Pulma said Dangwa posted bail on Wednesday, February 11, for his six counts of graft, six counts of malversation and five counts of direct bribery charges in connection with the alleged scam.
Dangwa was among the second batch of lawmakers charged by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.
The other lawmakers were former Masbate Rep. and incumbent Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, former APEC party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez, former Cagayan De Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula and former Agusan Del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza.
Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the pork barrel scam, is co-accused in all the charges filed against the five former lawmakers. She is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
In a recent raffling of the new batch of cases related to the pork barrel scam, the case against Dangwa and his co-accused went to the Sandiganbayan Third Division under Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.
Based on the rules of procedure, after the raffling of cases, the court tasked to handle the case will then determine if there is probable cause to try the accused. Upon the determination of probable cause, the court will then issue a warrant of arrest order.
Pulma, however, explained that an accused has the right to post bail, even before the court decides on whether there is probable cause to hear the cases.
“The court recognizes the right of the accused to post bail even before the court decides if there is probable cause to try him or even with the absence of an arrest order… posting bail is not tantamount to admission of guilt,” Pulma said.
Meanwhile, Dangwa’s chief of staff, Erwin Dangwa likewise posted bail bonds worth P430,000 for six counts each of malversation and graft.
Despite their temporary liberty, the two, however, are barred from leaving the country after the Third Division on Friday issued a hold departure order against them and the other accused.
Based on the cases filed by the Office of the Ombudman, Dangwa allegedly allowed his 2001 to 2010 PDAF worth P54 million to be coursed through the non-government organizations (NGOs) allegedly owned by Napoles in exchange for P26.7 million worth of kickbacks. —KBK, GMA News
