- Sandiganbayan issues a hold departure order against JV Ejercito
- This was for the procurement of high-powered firearms using public funds
- Of the 19 co-accused, five have also been issued a hold departure order
The Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order against Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday for his illegal purchase of firearms when he was still seated as San Juan City mayor.
Signed by the 5th Division’s Associate Justices Rafael Lagos, Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Zaldy Trepreses, the order covers the P2.1 million illegally purchased firearms and graft case of the incumbent lawmaker.
“This court, in exercise of its inherent power to use all means necessary to carry its orders into effect…orders the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold departure from the Philippines of the above-named accused and to include the names of said accused on the Hold Departure List of said Bureau,” GMA News Online quoted the order as saying.
The son of former President Joseph Estrada is accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and technical malversation.
Aside from Ejercito, five others, who are members of the San Juan Bids and Awards Committee, were also issued hold departure order. They were Ranulfo Dacalos (city administrator), Rosalinda Marasigan (treasurer), Romualdo Delos Santos (city attorney), Lorenza Ching (city budget officer) and Danilo Mercardo (city engineer).
There are also 14 others who the anti-graft court earlier charged for the anomalous weaponry purchase who were not included In the hold departure order.
According to the Sandiganbayan, the procurement of 20 units of Daewoo K2 Caliber 5.56 MM sub-machine gun and Daewoo K1 Caliber 5.56 MM sub-machine gun to HK Tactical Defense System, Inc. (HKTDSI) was “without the required competitive public bidding, post qualification, and legal appropriation.”
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