Acosta: Warrant out to ruin my credibility

PRESIDENTIAL Adviser for Environmental Protection Secretary Nereus “Neric” Acosta believed that influential people who are involved in illegal activities against the environment are behind the revival of the perjury case that resulted in the issuance of a warrant against him and his mother.

In a statement sent to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, the Acostas emphasized that the sole complainant of the perjury case against them, a certain Fr. Venancia Balansag, already submitted his affidavit of desistance to the office of the Ombudsman last May 22, 2012.

The case was filed sometime in 2006 when the younger Acosta was still a representative of Bukidnon while his mother was also the mayor of Manolo Fortich.

Balansag, in his affidavit of desistance, stated: “I have realized that I may have misappreciated the attendant facts surrounding this case. I have decided to distance and dissociate myself from this case and withdraw all my complaints against Mr. Juan Romeo Nereus O. Acosta and Socorro O. Acosta.”

Acosta, who is also the general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), believed that the issue is only to ruin his credibility by those “influential people” who were hit of his campaign in protecting the environment in line with President Benigno Aquino’s slogan “Matuwid na Daan.”

“Gigamit lang sa mga dautang element ang isyu sa kasong perjury aron dauton ang iyang kredibilidad ug mapugngan ang iyang sinsero nga adbokasiya sa kinaiyahan,” the press statement said.

Last January 24, the Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants against the Acostas in connection with the P5.5-million perjury charges filed against them. They may post bail bonds of P6,000 each to get temporary liberty.

Associate Justice Roland Jurado, chair of the Sandiganbayan 5th Divison, signed the warrant.

Balansag accused the Acostas of making bogus declarations in their counter-affidavits filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in 2006 when the former representative’s P5.5-million Priority Development Assistance Fund unlawfully transferred to a non-government organization supposedly put up and ran by his own relatives -- the Bukidnon Vegetable Producers’ Cooperative.

Earlier, the Acostas sought dismissal of the charges on the ground that Balansag already executed an affidavit of desistance. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)