Ex-TRC chief Ortiz wants ‘pork’ prosecutors cited in contempt

Former Technology Resource Center (TRC) chief Antonio Ortiz wants government prosecutors cited in contempt for allegedly submitting to court false and fabricated assertions in connection with the pork barrel scam case.

In two separate petitions, Ortiz said the court should order Manuel Soriano Jr., Danilo Lopez, Ma. Christina Marallag-Batacan, Anna Isabel Aurellano, Peter Jedd Boco, Maria Janina Hidalgo, Jennifer Agustin-Se, Edwin Gomez, and Annielyn Medes-Cabelis to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt.

He said the public prosecutors “conspiring, and confederating together, mutually helping one another, jointly composed, signed and filed” before the court “false fabricated and perjured Motion to Expunge from the Records the Amended Motion to Quash and Recall Warrant of Arrest” that he filed.

Ortiz said the informations submitted by the prosecutors to the Sandiganbayan either did not include his name or did not mention the allegation against him.

“After due notice and hearing, respondents be declared guilty of contempt,” he asked the court.

Under Section 7, Rule 71 of the the Revised Rule of Court, those found guilty of contempt may be punished by a fine not exceeding P30,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both.

The prosecutors earlier said Ortiz, in conspiracy with detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other public officers, were manifestly partial to Janet Lim Napoles and her non-government organizations. They said Ortiz participated in most, if not all the stages of the TRC disbursement process to ensure the speedy release of the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund to Napoles’ NGOs.

Ortiz is among the personalities charged in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam who have left the country.  

His motion stated that a special power of attorney appointing his son, Antonio Ortiz Jr., as his counsel was authenticated by the Counsul of the Philippines for Northern California, USA.

He is facing one count of graft before the Fifth Division hearing Estrada’s case, two counts of graft before the Third Division hearing Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile’s case, and four counts of graft before the First Division hearing Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.’s case. —KBK, GMA News