Samar lawmaker seeks dismissal of raps

MANILA, Philippines — Samar second district Rep. Milagrosa Tan has asked the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the graft and malversation charges filed against her in connection with the alleged anomalous procurement of medicine and dental supplies when she was governor.

In a motion dated last Dec. 29, Tan asked the anti-graft court’s seventh division to dismiss the charges over the inordinate delay in the investigation.

“The delay is unjustifiable considering that there were no complex issues…to justify an inordinate delay of more than 10 years before the information was filed in court,” Tan’s motion read.

She said the delay was “oppressive, capricious and vexatious” and a violation of her constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases.

Tan is facing eight counts of graft and five counts of malversation of public funds over the procurement amounting to P69 million.

In filing the cases last Nov. 24, the Office of the Ombudsman cited a Commission on Audit (COA) report that the provincial government made the purchases despite an increase in the inventory of drugs and medicine from 2005 to 2007.

The ombudsman said the COA disallowed the transactions, noting that these were “unnecessary and non-responsive to the exigencies of the service.”

Zybermed Medi Pharma, which sold the medicine and dental supplies also had no business permit, the ombudsman said.

Provincial treasurer Bienvenido Sabanecio Jr., former accountant Francasio Detosil, former administrative officer Rolando Montejo, former general services department officer-in-charge Ariel Yboa and former supply officer George Abrina were included in the charge sheets.

Roselyn Larce of Zybermed was also named a respondent in the cases.