Sandiganbayan warns Cusi, co-accused over delays as Malampaya case rescheduled anew

The Sandiganbayan on Friday again rescheduled the arraignment of former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and his co-accused for the graft case they are facing after they filed a motion for bill of particulars.

The case is in connection with the alleged illegal 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.

The bill of particulars is a pleading which asks the prosecution to specify the nature and basis of the allegations.

The arraignment or the process where the accused enter a guilty or not guilty plea on the charge, has been reset to June 26.

Sandiganbayan, meanwhile, warned the camps of Cusi and his co-accused about the delays in their arraignment date.

"The court can no longer delay the arraignment of the accused absent a compelling reason to do so," Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson and Associate Justice Karl Miranda said.

"This case has been filed in August 2025. It is almost a year since then. This case has been consumed by motions (pleadings)," Miranda added.

The prosecution was given five days to submit the bill of particulars.

Miranda said that while the accused have the right to avail of all legal remedies, it should not be at the expense of delaying justice.

"Out of respect to the accused, this court has suspended the arraignment numerous times and resolved all the motions parties have filed," Miranda said.

"10 months na po ang itinagal nito. Let us resolve the case on its merits. Trust that the court will serve justice," he added. —VAL, GMA News