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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Pampanga guv files plunder vs 'jueteng lord'
By Ian Ocampo Flora
PAMPANGA -- Governor Eddie Panlilio on Monday filed a plunder case against Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda, an alleged "jueteng lord," at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City.
Panlilio, who filed the case in his private capacity as a citizen, based his complaint on what he stated as "general and public knowledge" that Pineda "figured prominently" in the plunder trial of former President Joseph Estrada.
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He said Pineda was among those "who conspired and helped" the former President to amass "ill-gotten wealth."
Estrada was found guilty by the Sandiganbayan, but was later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The priest-turned-governor said in his complaint-affidavit that the guilty verdict by the Sandiganbayan on Estrada based on the evidence presented to the court, "also support an indictment for plunder of respondent Bong Pineda."
Panlilio cited statements by witnesses in Estrada plunder case and the court's decision wherein Pineda's name was mentioned.
"The evidence presented by the Honorable Office was sufficient to prove the guilt of former President Estrada beyond reasonable doubt. Undeniably, a finding from the Honorable Office of the existence of mere probable cause for criminal prosecution against respondent Bong Pineda is more than warranted," he said.
Panlilio said that under section 2 of Republic Act 7080 or otherwise known as An Act Defining and Penalizing The Crime Of Plunder, any person who participated with a public officer in the commission of an offense contributing to the crime of plunder "shall likewise be punished for such offense."
Flanked by supporters from the civil society, Panlilio traveled all the way from Pampanga to file his complaint against Pineda.
"I have no grudge against the Pinedas. This is to give face to the jueteng problem in the province. This is against jueteng," he said.
Panlilio, when asked why it took him almost a year to file the case, only said that his administration has come up with various plans to curtail jueteng, which included offering alternative jobs for jueteng bet collectors.
He added that his filing of a legal case against the elder Pineda was just one of the steps to be taken against the illegal numbers game.
Sun.Star on Monday repeatedly tried but failed to get the comment of Pineda and his son, Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (June 24, 2008 issue)
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