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Nani, co-defendants to
be arraigned Monday


THE Sandiganbayan Second Division yesterday directed former Justice Secretary Hernando "Nani" Perez and three others to appear before the court for arraignment on a robbery charge on May 5 at 1:30 p.m.

The robbery case against Perez, his wife Rosario, brother-in-law Ramon Arceo, and businessman Ernest Escaler arose from their alleged conspiracy to extort $2 million from former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez in 2001.

The court issued the order even as the defendants insisted that suspension of proceedings against them should remain in effect at least until May 8 after they impleaded the Sandiganbayan in their petition for certiorari (review) before the Supreme Court last April 28.

They invoked Section 7, Rule 65 of the Rules of Court which states that a respondent court shall proceed within 10 days from the filing of the petition with the higher court.

"There was no reason for this Honorable Court not to have used the period of 10 days from April 28, 2008 to pass upon the issue of the existence of probable cause before issuing the warrant of arrest," the defense argued.

In his complaint against Perez, Jimenez claimed he was forced to fork over the $2 million after the former Justice secretary threatened him and his family with physical harm, including imprisonment, when he refused to execute affidavits that would have implicated associates of deposed President Joseph Estrada in a plunder charge.

Perez' wife, Arceo and Escaler were charged with aiding him in concealing the $2 million after graft investigators traced portions of the money going into their personal bank accounts.

All four have already posted bail preempting the Second Division from issuing a warrant of arrest for them. - Peter J.G. Tabingo

 


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