DOJ panel recommends bribery raps vs De Borja

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of bribery charges against businessman Francis Roa de Borja in connection with the row between Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), a radio report said Friday. In a 12-page resolution, the DOJ panel investigating the P10-million bribery scandal that rocked the Court of Appeals last year found probable cause for charging De Borja with violation of Presidential Decree 46, or corrupting a public official. The resolution was signed by Justice Undersecretary Ernesto Pineda, Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo de Castro, and chief prosecutor Emily delos Santos. The panel based its recommendation on the statement of CA Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr. that De Borja offered P10 million for him to inhibit himself from handling the Meralco-GSIS case. Sabio was then the chairman of the division in the CA hearing the pending Meralco corporate ownership case. Last December, in a 19-page counter-affidavit, De Borja said there was no truth to Sabio’s claim. De Borja also denied Sabio’s claim that Meralco president Manuel Lopez was waiting for him on the night of July 1, 2008, at the Ateneo Law School when the supposed bribe offer was made. Lopez, he said, has proof that he was out of the country on that date. De Borja also noted that Sabio failed to present any eyewitness to prove his claim. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV