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[av_heading heading=’Treñas seeks to dismiss graft raps’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, February 25, 2018
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SUSPENDED representative Jerry Treñas sought the dismissal of the graft case filed against him over the release of P500,000 for the construction of the Iloilo Press Club building.
There was no clear evidence of him violating Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Treñas said in a motion filed at the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division.
He said the evidence the Office of the Ombudsman submitted during the preliminary investigation “did not point to any circumstance showing manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
Treñas was accused of giving “unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference” for releasing P500,000 for the construction of the press club building when he was mayor of Iloilo City.
Last month the Sandiganbayan suspended him for 90 days as the graft charge undergoes litigation.
According to the case information, Treñas signed a memorandum of agreement with the press club for the construction of the latter’s building in Barangay San Pedro, Molo, Iloilo City.
His act of coursing the money to the press club from December 2003 to January 2004 allegedly violated Commission on Audit rules since the press club was not one of the nongovernment organizations accredited by the city government.
The fund was sourced from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Sen. Loren Legarda.
“Given the factual background of this case, there is no room for any reasonable man to think that accused Treñas is liable for violating Section 3 (e) of RA 3019,” read part of the motion.
The agreement he entered into with the press club and his direct supervision on the PDAF’s release were insufficient evidence to charge him with graft, Treñas pointed out.
Moreover, Legarda’s Special Allotment and Release Order showed that the Iloilo Press Club was the beneficiary of her PDAF while the Iloilo City government was tapped as implementing agency.
Treñas also cited as ground for the dismissal of the charge the “inordinate delay” in the Office of the Ombudsman’s action – 14 years from when the alleged crime took place.
Previously the representative said his suspension was “part of the judicial process, which has to be respected. I know that, in the end, I will clear myself of these charges.”/PN
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