By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has turned down a motion of a former water district general manager to junk the PHP1.59 malversation charges against him.
In a six-page resolution dated March 16 penned by Associate Justice Edgardo Cardona, the anti-graft court’s Second Division denied the motion to quash filed by Dante G. Formosa Jr., former general manager of the San Francisco, Quezon water district, for lack of merit.
Formosa and his co-accused, former cashiering assistant Digi Anna Fernandez, failed to account for the sum representing undeposited collections.
“Contrary to the accused’s claim, the facts alleged in the information clearly constitutes the offense of malversation,” the Sanbigan said.
The tribunal also dismissed the accused’s claim that the information against them should not have been filed by Acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas following the appointment of Ombudsman Jesus Remulla on Oct. 7.
The court noted that Vargas was given the authority to sign for and on behalf of then outgoing Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
“This power was revoked by a subsequent office order only on July 27, 202? or a month after Deputy Ombudsman Vargas green-lit the filing of the information. Therefore, contrary to accused-movant’s claim, Deputy Ombudsman Vargas had the authority to file the assailed information,” the ruling read. (PNA)
