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Thursday, January 30, 2003
Jimenez to post bail; John O to get deposition
By Joshua Dancel
MANILA -- Extradited Manila Representative Mark Jimenez will finally post bail Thursday for his temporary liberty pending trial of the criminal charges filed against him.
Senator John Osmena Wednesday said he will leave for Miami Florida in ten days to personally get Jimenez deposition in relation to the inquiry on a controversial power deal agreement.
Osmena said somebody monitoring the case of Jimenez in the US informed him Jimenez would finally post bail Thursday (RP time).
"We would fly in ten days to get his deposition," Osmena told Sun.Star.
He said they were expecting Jimenez to post bail two weeks ago but for some unknown reasons, Jimenez failed to do so.
Jimenez was required by a Miami court to post bail at $500,000 and be confined within a certain area, monitored electronically by the authorities.
Osmena, chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, is currently investigating the $2 million alleged bribery of former Justice Sec. Hernando Perez.
The senator said he would only fly to Miami once Jimenez gets out of jail to avoid red tape in seeking permission to visit the Filipino lawmaker in jail.
Despite Senate President Franklin Drilon's opposition to his planned trip to the United States, Osmena said he would fly to Miami and personally get his deposition under oath.
Osmena said international finance man Ernest Escaler is currently in the country attending social events, contrary to reports that he is out of the country.
Before Perez is finally grilled on the alleged bribe, Osmena said Escaler would have to be subpoenaed first to face his Committee.
"Probably next week, we will have the bankers and lenders face the committee. My problem is they do not have addresses. Law firms represent them here," Osmena said.
The alleged bribe, Jimenez earlier claimed, was deposited in Escaler's bank account in Hong Kong, which Perez eventually withdrew. Since the exposé blew up, President Arroyo was forced to let go of the former Justice secretary, a move Jimenez claimed was part of his agreement with the Chief Executive.
The direct guarantee reportedly given by Perez for Impsa placed government in a disadvantageous situation.
Meanwhile, fellow lawmakers who composed the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) will hear on Thursday Jimenez poll case.
On the agenda are arguments on whether the Manila congressman should lose his post for reportedly failing to meet the residency requirement and for
allegedly resorting to massive vote buying during the May 2001 elections.
Members of the HRET include Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo (Malabon-Navotas), Joaquin Chipeco (Laguna), Salacnib Baterina (Ilocos Sur), Zenaida Cruz-Ducut (Pampanga), Douglas Cagas (Davao) and Oscar Rodriguez (Pampanga).
Associate Justice Reynato Puno, chairman of the 9-member HRET, said the case will be immediately submitted for resolution after the oral arguments.
Associate Justices Vicente Mendoza and Leonardo Quisumbing are the two other justice-members of the HRET.
Quisumbing has inhibited himself from participating in the oral arguments as Jimenez's lawyer, Froilan Bacungan, was a former law partner.
The HRET is eyeing to resolve the election protest against Jimenez within 30 days.
The election protest against Jimenez stemmed from complaints filed separately by Dr. Bienvenido Abante, Jr. with Atty. Prudencio Jalandoni and
Jimenez's predecessor, Rosenda Ocampo, the daughter of Pablo Ocampo, a losing candidate in the elections. (Sunnex Luzon) |
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