Warrant of arrest vs ex-Muntinlupa mayor, 11 pa

Nagpalabas ng arrest warrant ang Sandiganbayan Second Division laban kay dating Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro at 11 pa kaugnay ng kasong graft na isinampa dahil sa maanomalya umanong pagbili ng mga trolley bag noong 2008.
Kasama sa arrest warrant sina dating city administrator Roberto Bunyi, chairman ng Bids and Awards Committee, dating city legal officer Michael Racelis, vice chairman ng BAC, at mga dating miyembro ng BAC na sina dating city engineer Vicente Navarro, dating city budget officer Avelino Orellana, dating Procurement Office head Sonia Laureta, Peter Salonga at Rodolfo Oliquindo, dating Technical Working Group chairman Roderick Espina at dating mga miyembro ng TWG na sina Edwin Suitado, Eduardo Bautista at Glenn Manuel Santos.
“After a careful evaluation of accused separate motions, we find the contentions therein not sufficient to set aside the findings of probable cause, and we rule that there exists probable cause to justify the issuance of warrants of arrest with respect to all accused,” saad ng resolusyon.
Ang kaso ay nag-ugat sa pagbili ng 40,000 piraso ng trolley bag na nagkakahalaga ng P22 milyon noong 2008. Ang trolley bag ay para sa mga elementary pupil na pumapasok sa pampublikong paaralan ng siyudad.
Hindi umano dumaan sa public bidding ang proyekto at hindi umano ito kasama sa 2008 Annual Procurement Plan ng siyudad.
“A finding of probable cause does not require an inquiry as to whether there is sufficient evidence to secure a conviction… At this stage of the criminal proceeding, the judge is not yet tasked to review in detail the evidence submitted during the preliminary investigation [of the Ombudsman],” saad ng desisyon. “It is sufficient that he (judge) personally evaluates such evidence in determining probable cause.”