Manila: The Sandiganbayan has rejected a motion from a former water district general manager seeking to dismiss PHP1.59 million malversation charges against him.
According to Philippines News Agency, the anti-graft court's Second Division, in a six-page resolution dated March 16, authored by Associate Justice Edgardo Cardona, denied the motion to quash filed by Dante G. Formosa Jr., who previously served as the general manager of the San Francisco, Quezon water district. The court found the motion lacking in merit.
Formosa, along with his co-accused, former cashiering assistant Digi Anna Fernandez, failed to provide an accounting for the undeposited collections. The Sandiganbayan stated, "Contrary to the accused's claim, the facts alleged in the information clearly constitute the offense of malversation."
The court also dismissed the argument made by the accused that the charges should not have been filed by Acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas, following the appointment of Ombudsman Jesus Remulla on October 7. The tribunal clarified that Vargas had been authorized to sign on behalf of the outgoing Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
The ruling emphasized, "This power was revoked by a subsequent office order only on July 27, 202?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."
