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Nani Perez Power Plant Deal

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years, 6 months ago

Update: 2008-04-17

Ombudsman orders filing of criminal raps vs ex-justice chief

By Tetch Torres

INQUIRER.net

First Posted 15:21:00 04/16/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has ordered the filing of criminal charges against former justice secretary Hernando Perez, his wife, and two others over the alleged P2 million extortion case filed by a former Manila congressman.

In a 24-page order, Gutierrez denied for lack of merit, several motions filed by Perez.

Aside form extortion, Perez has been charged with allegedly violating the anti-graft law. His co-accused are his wife, Rosario; brother-in-law Ramon Arceo; and business associate Ernesto Escaler.

 

Update: 2008-01-08

Ombudsman Mercy Guttierrez indicts Nani! Visit <a href="/http://www.malaya.com.ph/jan09/news1.htm">this link</a>, hopefully the link lasts.

 

 

Just as everyone had given up on Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, she pulled a surprise by sustaining the recommendation of an Ombudsman committee to indict former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez in connection with the US$2-million bribe case filed by former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez. But then, the case was supported by documents from the Swiss and Hongkong authorities, which could have prevented another whitewash attempt.

 

 

The Perez case appears to have been the first major corruption scandal under the Arroyo administration. It is widely believed that the bribery had to do with the approval of the $470-million power contract with an Argentine firm which former President Estrada had originally approved before he was deposed.

 

 

Two days after Arroyo assumed office, among Perez’s first acts was to approve the deal despite claims that it was disadvantageous to the government. Trying to shield himself from allegations that he also profited from the deal as a broker, Jimenez changed tack in his complaint with the Ombudsman, claiming that the $2-million bribe was part of his agreement with Perez not to push for his extradition and inclusion in the criminal charges against Estrada. But he apparently had told Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier that the entire sweetener was actually $14 million, with $2 million going to Perez; $1 million to the National Power Corp. “boys”; $4 million to Malacañang, and $7 million to Jimenez.

 

 

The President tried to save Perez by telling Jimenez to back up his claim with evidence. At the height of the scandal, not too subtly, the President bussed Perez on the cheek, to let everyone know that Perez remained in her good graces.

 

 

A high-ranking source at the Ombudsman alleged that former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo received persistent phone calls from Malacañang to drop the case. Before he resigned, however, Marcelo made sure that the case would proceed by docketing it for preliminary investigation.

 

 

A NEWSBREAK source claims that the filing of the case against Perez had Malacanang’s blessings in exchange for a compromise with Jimenez. This is not entirely without basis. Jimenez had cleared Malacañang of any involvement in the power contract. Why would he do that for a government that had caused his extradition to the US to face criminal charges leading to his imprisonment?

 

 

Source of this information is Newsbreak.

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