JV Ejercito, others ordered arrested over guns bought with calamity funds

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:43 p.m.)  — The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has found probable cause to try Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito and other San Juan City officials for technical malversation over an allegedly anomalous purchase of high-powered guns with calamity funds.

Aside from Ejercito, who was San Juan mayor when the purchase was made in 2008, the court also found probable cause to try former Vice Mayor Leonardo Celles and Sangguniang Panglunsod members Angelino Mendoza, Rolando Bernardo, Domingo Sese, Francisco Zamora, Dante Santiago, Grace Perdines, Francis Keith Peralta, Eduardo Soriano, Jannah Ejercito-Surla and Joseph Christopher Torralba for the same crime.

"Let [warrants] of arrest be issued against all the accused," the Sandiganbayan's 6th Division said in a resolution promulgated Monday.

The case stems from the purchase of 20 submachine guns with P2.1 million in calamity funds while the city was not under a state of calamity. Prosecutors said the purchase was done without bidding and that submachine guns are not among the items that calamity funds can be used to buy.

The members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod were charged for passing an ordinance that allowed the purchase of the guns with calamity funds while Ejercito, as mayor, approved the purchase.

RELATED: JV Ejercito pleads not guilty to graft raps

In a statement sent to and shared online by ABS-CBN's Carolyn Bonquin, Ejercito said he is optimistic that he will be acquitted of the charges.

"I want trial to start right away. We will not cause any delay as i want to clear my name as soon as possible," he also said.

Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who was a councilor at the time of the purchase, meanwhile said the council members cannot be charged with technical malversation because they are not "accountable officers". He explained the council did not hold the money for the guns nor disburse it for the purchase.

The court, in its resolution, said that similar arguments are "but matters of defense that are best addressed during the trial of this case."

The Sandiganbayan's 5th Division also earlier ordered Ejercito arrested for graft over the same purchase. He posted P30,000 bail in that case. — Jonathan de Santos

Editor's Note: An earlier version of the story referred to the San Juan City council as Sangguinang Panlalawigan instead of Sangguniang Panlungsod.