Relampagos’ flight an indication of guilt — Roque

MANILA, Philippines — The government could ask the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to speed up cancelation of the passport and extradition of former budget undersecretary Mario Relampagos after he jumped bail following his failure to return from his trip to the United States early this month, Malacañang officials said yesterday.

Sought for comment, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. cited the doctrine that “flight is an indication of guilt” after the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division ruled that Relampagos has become a fugitive from justice after his own lawyer manifested that he will not be returning to the country.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the DFA to cancel Relampagos’ passport, which will expire on Oct. 14, 2019.

The court also directed the prosecution to initiate steps for his extradition.

The court also forfeited bail and travel bonds posted by Relampagos.

Roque urged Relampagos to return to the country if he is really innocent of the charges.

He said Relampagos should return to the country if he is innocent and clear his name.

“Flight is an evidence of guilt,” Roque said.

Roque also urged Relampagos to spill the beans on possible bigger personalities who may be involved in the pork barrel scam.

He said that the proper agencies like the DFA could revoke the official’s travel documents and push for his extradition.

The passport of Relampagos could be revoked and he could be extradited back to the country, said Roque.

He pointed out that the Philippines has an extradition treaty with the United States, which would make it easier for the government to ask for assistance to bring back a fugitive to the country.

The anti-graft court allowed Relampagos to travel to the United States from Dec. 2, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018 to attend the meeting of the International Consortium on Government Financial Management and visit his daughter and three grandchildren.

The Ombudsman’s special prosecutor knows what to do in case Relampagos jumped bail and became a fugitive, said Roque.