THE SANDIGANBAYAN has denied Camarines Sur-1st district Rep. Rolando G. Andaya, Jr.’s motion to quash grounds against him in connection with his alleged involvement in the P900-million Malampaya fund scam. Mr. Andaya filed on Jan. 15 an omnibus motion to quash the information against him, which included 97 counts of graft and another 97 charges for malversation. In a 28-page resolution dated March 6, the anti-graft court said “contrary to accused-movant Andaya, Jr.’s allegation, an objective and careful reading of the 194 Informations in these cases reveals that there is nothing ambiguous or confusing in the allegations therein against him.” The Court also said that arguments of the prosecution and the camp of Mr. Andaya “should all be heard by the Court at an opportune time, or at the time which they are required to submit their respective pieces of evidence.” Mr. Andaya in his motion asserted that the Informations against him were “fatally defective” due to its failure to specify how he participated. The case stemmed from the use of the Malampaya fund, worth P900 million, for the Department of Agrarian Reform, which Mr. Andaya granted, despite lack of clear basis for the amount. Mr. Andaya had argued as well that Special Allotment Release Order and the Notices of Cash Allocation, which he had signed were done in performance of his duty as then Budget Secretary. He said in the motion that to conclude this as an act constituting a crime is “a giant leap in logic.” The prosecution, however, explained that the points raised by Mr. Andaya did not invalidate the Informations, which the Sandiganbayan already settled in a Resolution, dated Aug. 20, 2018. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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