SC affirms dismissal of graft case vs Baja

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the dismissal of the graft complaint filed against former permanent representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja Jr.

The high court upheld the decision of the Sandiganbayan, which granted Baja’s motion to dismiss the $29,000 graft case for lack of evidence.

The anti-graft court did not commit grave abuse of discretion, the SC said.

“Once a demurrer to evidence has been granted in a criminal case, the grant amounts to an acquittal. To reverse the dismissal of the case would violate Baja’s constitutional right against double jeopardy,” the SC ruled.

The Office of the Ombudsman has  filed a petition before the SC questioning the Sandiganbayan ruling.

Baja, 84, was accused of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for incurring questionable representation expenses from 2003 until 2005 when he was the Philippine representative to the UN and chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Philippine Mission to the UN in New York City.

Baja served as the Philippine representative to the UN from 2003 to 2007.