Court orders Disini’s cousin to testify on Marcos ill-gotten wealth case

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has ordered lawyer Jesus Disini to testify against his cousin, Herminio Disini, regarding the ill-gotten wealth case of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos. In a six-page ruling issued June 12, the Sandiganbayan’s First Division junked Jesus Disini’s motion for reconsideration, where he invoked his 1989 immunity agreement with the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) limiting his testimony only to litigations abroad. “In view of the foregoing, the Court is constrained to deny, as it hereby denies, for lack of merit, the motion for reconsideration of movant Atty Jesus Disini. Further, unless restrained by the Supreme Court, no such motions or motions similar to said motion shall be entertained by the court,” the anti-graft court said. Jesus Disini will be the State’s last witness in the case against the Marcoses, which has been dragging on for more than 20 years already. The Government is seeking award of damages against the defendants in the sum of P50 billion on top of reimbursement of litigation expenses for P1 billion as well as forfeiture of all ill-gotten assets. The State is the only party left presenting evidence in the case after the Marcos estate, former First Lady Imelda Marcos and Herminio Disini were barred for failing to submit their respective answers to the government complaint within the prescribed period. The court also overruled Jesus Disini’s claim that he is disqualified from testifying under the attorney-client confidentiality rule, noting that he was not a legal counsel of his cousin. Likewise, it warned Jesus Disini against making further attempts at blocking the trial. Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera has described Jesus Disini as a crucial witness for the government since he acquired a lot of insider information on Herdis’ transactions and business operations having been a company executive from 1971 to 1984. PCGG alleged that Herminio Disini received $17 million in commissions from Westinghouse Electric Corporation, the American firm that cornered the $2.1 billion contract for the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and another P1 millions from Burns and Roe which was awarded the design contract for the power plant. The BNPP was mothballed under the administration of President Corazon Aquino after investigations revealed hundreds of defects on the power plant structure. Herminio Disini is also facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the BNPP deal. - GMANews.TV