Binay cases, Malampaya fund scam among cases handled by slain Ombudsman prosecutor

Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco-Tanyag has left behind big shoes to fill at the Sandiganbayan where she has been handling several high-profile cases in the Third Division during her short stint as a state prosecutor.

Tanyag is among the panel of Ombudsman prosecutors in the Malampaya fund scam which included former Budget chief and incumbent Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. and former Agrarian Reform secretary and now Masui City, Lanao del Sur Mayor Nasser Pangandaman as its co-accused.

Tanyag was even able to attend the proceedings of the case at the Third Division where the third motion to travel abroad of accused Ruby Tuason was discussed on Monday morning, or hours before she was stabbed to death along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City upon buying her favorite milk tea. 

The 25 accused in the Malampaya case each face 97 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and 97 counts of malversation of public funds.

Tanyag, who passed the 2011 Bar exams, further represented the People on Monday in the charges against former Iloilo representative Judy Syjuco on the anomalous purchase of cellphone units and the fertilizer scam case of former Norala, South Cotabato mayor Romeo Januto.

She had also been a member of the prosecution team against former Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr. and former Makati City mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay Jr. on the P2.29-billion Makati City Parking Building and family matriarch Dr. Elenita Binay over the alleged anomalous purchase of hospital beds at the Ospital ng Makati.

Aside from these, Tanyag and her colleague Atty. Marichelle Corpuz have been prosecuting former Davao del Sur representative Marc Douglas Cagas IV on his alleged involvement in the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam.

Other cases where Tanyag served with the prosecution team include those against former Caloocan City mayor Enrico Echiverri, former Cagayan de Oro City mayor Oscar Moreno, and former Tuegarao City mayor Delfin Telan Ting.

The 33-year-old lawyer further managed to become the lone prosecutor in the cases of Januto, Barili, Cebu Vice Mayor Teresito Marinas, former Cebu provincial board member Victor Maambong, former Aloguinsan, Cebu mayor Cynthia Go Moreno, and former Cabadbaran City mayor Dale Corvera.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel had said they are looking into robbery as the motive for the stabbing of Tanyag and has formed a Special Investigation Task Group to probe the incident.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde presented one of the suspects, Angelito Avenido Jr., to the media on Tuesday. He said Avenido allegedly confided to a witness about his crime. — MDM, GMA News