Sandiganbayan suspends Tarlac solon for 90 days over graft

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has placed Tarlac 3rd Rep. Noel Rivera under a 90-day preventive suspension due to a pending graft case involving his alleged links to a construction firm that won government contracts.

In a Resolution dated September 29 but released on September 30, the anti-graft court said the suspension is anchored on Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which states that any public official facing a criminal case involving fraud upon government or public funds or property should be suspended from office.

The Sandiganbayan said that it already ruled that the two counts of graft cases filed by Ombudsman prosecutors are valid criminal informations last September 6 by denying Rivera’s motions to quash due to lack of merit.

“The arguments as to the validity of the Informations raised by accused Rivera in his instant Comment are merely substantial reiterations of those in his previous Motions to Quash. The Court already considered the same and found them to be without merit when it denied the said Motions to Quash in the said Resolutions. Thus, there is no more question as to the validity of the Informations,” the court said.

“The requisites for suspension under Section 13 of Republic Act No. 3019 have been met. The Court must order the suspension of accused Rivera. Accordingly, the Court hereby orders the suspension pendente lite of accused Noel Nudo Rivera as a member of the House of Representatives, and from any other public position he may now or hereafter hold for a period of 90 days from receipt of this Resolution,” the Sandiganbayan added.

The anti-graft court also ordered that the Speaker of the House be furnished with the September 29 copy of the Resolution for immediate implementation.—LDF, GMA News