Sandiganbayan defers arraignment of Cusi in graft charge

The Sandiganbayan has deferred the arraignment of former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and 11 other accused in relation to the supposed ‘anomalous’ Malampaya takeover to January 2026 amid a pending motion to junk the amended graft charge against them.  

The order to reschedule the hearing to January 16 next year was given by the Sandiganbayan Third Division chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda.

Cusi was absent during his and 11 other accused’s scheduled arraignment on Friday on a graft charge over the sale of Chevron’s share and transfer of rights in the Malampaya natural gas-to-power project to Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp. and its subsidiary, UC Malampaya.

He was the only one absent during their scheduled arraignment as the11 co-accused all showed up in-person.

Sandiganbayan Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno asked Cusi’s counsel Joey Rose de Leon to explain Cusi’s absence.

De Leon said Cusi was advised by a senior counsel, Atty. Ruy Rondain, not to come because there are pending unresolved motions to junk the graft charge filed by Cusi and the accused.

Moreno then pressed de Leon if pendancy of motion to quash is a reason to be absent in a scheduled arraignment.

De Leon answered, “None that I know of.” 

The anti-graft court later said Cusi should explain as to why he skipped the scheduled arraignment. —VAL, GMA Integrated News