MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo City Rep. Geronimo Treñas has asked the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the graft charges filed against him over the alleged anomalous release of funds to a press club when he was mayor.
In a 13-page motion filed before the anti-graft court’s seventh division, Treñas said his constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases was violated when it took five years for the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the complaint.
Lawyer Raul Gonzalez filed the complaint on Nov. 12, 2012, but it was only on Nov. 7, 2017 when Treñas was indicted.
“The Office of the Ombudsman gave... no reason…on the cause of the delay,” Treñas’ motion read.
“There was absolute silence as to why an investigation was instituted for an act that transpired almost 14 years ago,” it added.
Based on the complaint, Treñas released P500,000 from the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel of Sen. Loren Legarda for the construction of the office of the Iloilo Press Club in Barangay San Pedro Molo.
The ombudsman questioned the memorandum of agreement entered into by the city government with the press club, saying it was not an accredited non-government organization.