This was after the Sandiganbayan First Division ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant against Daniel A. Dimagiba, former deputy director for operations of CAAP, after finding probable cause to proceed with his trial on two counts of graft.
“After personally perusing the Information and evaluating the resolution of the prosecutor, the evidence in support thereof and the records of the preliminary investigation attached thereto, it appears that sufficient ground exist for the finding of probable cause. Wherefore, let a warrant of arrest be issued against accused Daniel A. Dimagiba,” the anti-graft court said.
The order was issued less than a month after the Office of the Ombudsman charged Dimagiba for allegedly pressuring two CAAP flight operations inspectors to give passing grades to two flight school students who failed the Pilot Proficiency Flight Check.
Dimagiba was also implicated in an alleged unlawful issuance of an operating permit to an airline in 2008.
The Sandiganbayan also issued a hold departure order has also been issued against Dimagiba, directing the Bureau of Immigration to prevent him from leaving the country unless with a court-issued clearance.
Dimagiba has already asked the court to suspend the proceedings against him to give him a chance to file a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman.
The charges, filed June 24, stemmed from the complaint filed by former CAAP director general Ruben Ciron.
Graft investigators also found irregularities in the issuance of an Air Carrier Operating Certificate (ACOC) signed by Dimagiba in favor of One Sky Aviation Services, Inc. (OSASI) despite submission of insufficient documentary requirements.
The Ombudsman resolution noted that OSASI has not secured a mandatory Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) or Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) in violation of Section 66 of RA 9497 (CAAP Charter).
Dimagiba is the husband of Court of Appeals Justice Leoncia Dimagiba. — KBK, GMA News
