Monday, July 30, 2007 Brillantes sis posts bail in theft case
THE sister of slain Monkayo Mayor Joel B. Brillantes posted bail for her provisional liberty after being charged with theft by the common law wife of the respondent's late brother.
Accused Janet Brillantes-Diel posted a P20,000 cash bond before the sala of Judge Renato Fuentes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 last July 10 after a warrant of arrest was issued against her in relation to the theft charge filed against her by Nene Abijar, common law wife of the late Monkayo mayor.
Abijar claimed that Diel "willfully, unlawfully and feloniously took, stole and carried away" three printing press machines last October 2, 2005.
Abijar is claiming ownership over the machines, which were stored inside the Magnetic Jones Building at Peacock Street in Ecoland, Davao City.
The three machines described as Solna 125, Minerva, and Heidelberg allegedly cost P1,000,000.
Diel, however, said her late brother owned the machines and after his death, ownership over the equipment went to their mother.
The respondent also claimed that the machines were actually just transferred to the JB Management and Mining Corporation at Olaycon in Monkayo "upon the instruction of the late Joel Brillantes."
The City Prosecutor's Office earlier charged Diel with theft on grounds that she had no convincing evidence to show any proof she should have custody of the three machines which the CPO said "definitely belongs to another or a third person."
Diel filed a motion for reconsideration on the CPO's earlier resolution, which was set aside by the CPO last May 25, 2007.
The CPO said in its resolution that Diel's contentions are best elucidated during trial.
In his order dated July 10, 2007, Judge Fuentes momentarily held the hearing of the case in abeyance until the petition for certiorari filed by Diel before the Department of Justice is resolved.
The theft charge is just one of the many charges and counter-charges filed against each other by Abijar and the Brillanteses in their fight over the multi-million-peso properties left behind by the late mayor. (RMH)
