Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 27) —The Sandiganbayan has ordered the preventive suspension of National Defense College director Aldrin Cuña over his alleged involvement in an anomalous solar power system project when he was city administrator of Quezon City.
In its decision, the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division said the anti-graft law mandates the court to suspend any public officer facing corruption charges.
Once the information is found to be sufficient in form and substance, then the court must issue the order of suspension as a matter of course. There are no ifs and buts about it,” the court explained. It added that unless suspended, the law presumes the accused may use his position to intimidate witnesses or block his prosecution.
Cuña and his former boss, ex-QC Mayor Herbert Bautista are accused of authorizing the anomalous payment of over ₱25 million to Cygnet Energy Power Inc. for the installation of solar power system and waterproofing at one of the buildings of the Quezon City Hall despite the company’s failure to comply with certain project requirements.
Meanwhile, the court denied Bautista’s second attempt to have the cases against him dismissed.This time, Bautista argued the prosecution’s pre-trial brief violated rules because they failed to indicate the purpose of the documents to be offered and the summary of witness testimonies.The court was not convinced.In the same way that the prosecution cannot impose upon the accused how to set up his defense, the accused cannot dictate on the general strategy employed by the prosecution,” the court said.
