QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Sandiganbayan fifth division issued an arrest warrant against Senator Jose “JV” Ejercito and five others for the graft case filed against them by the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged illegal procurement of 2.1-million pesos worth of firearms.
Also ordered arrested are the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members of San Juan City, namely: City Administrator Ranulfo Dacalos, City Treasurer Rosalinda Marasigan, City Attorney Romualdo Delos Santos, City Budget Officer Lorenza Ching and City Engineer Danilo Mercado.
In the case of technical malversation, Ejercito was included in the charge sheet of the Ombudsman when he was San Juan City Mayor, together with San Juan City vice Mayor Francisco Zamora, former vice Mayor Leonardo Celles and the councilors of the city.
Ejercito was earlier charged with one count of violation of section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act”, and one count of technical malversation as defined in article 220 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
The Sandiganbayan had also issued hold departure order twice against the senator.
Ejercito, meanwhile denied the accusations saying in a text message:
“I maintain my innocence and deny any wrongdoing in the purchase of high-powered firearms in 2008. I am not worried that the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against me. I know I did no wrong, and that this case is undoubtedly politically motivated by oppositionists at the local scene.”