Kinasuhan kahapon sa Sandiganbayan si Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito at 14 pang opisyal ng San Juan City dahil sa ilegal na paggamit ng pondo noong 2008, noong alkalde pa ng San Juan si Ejercito.

Kabilang sa isinampang kaso laban kay Ejercito ang paglabag sa Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) at technical malversation.

Sinampahan din ng kahalintulad na kaso sina dating San Juan City Vice Mayor Leonardo Celles, dating City Councilors Andoni Carballo, Vincent Pacheco, Angelino Mendoza, Dante Santiago, Rolando Bernardo, Grace Pardines, Domingo Sese, Francis Peralta, Edgardo Soriano, Janna Ejercito-Surla, Francisco Zamora, Ramon Nakpil, at Joseph Torralba.

Natuklasan sa imbestigasyon ng Office of the Ombudsman na ginamit ni Ejercito ang calamity fund ng San Juan para bumili ng matataas na uri ng armas na nagkakahalaga ng P2.1 milyon.

Ayon sa anti-graft agency, nakalaan lang ang nasabing pondo para sa kalamidad at hindi para sa pagbili ng matataas na uri ng armas.

Agad namang naglabas ng pahayag si Ejercito sa kanyang Facebook account: “It is unfortunate that the Office of the Ombudsman denied my Motion for Reconsideration on the 2008 case of firearms procurement, when I was San Juan City Mayor. My conscience, however, remains clear. I did not commit technical malversation. The firearms purchase was done accordingly within the law, that is why COA cleared us from any disallowance. My lawyer and I are preparing the next steps to resolve this case, which is clearly politically motivated related to the local fight in San Juan.”

(ROMMEL P. TABBAD)