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The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File.

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17182596893686-13-2024 2-36-18 PM.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the reopening of graft cases involving the granting of P660 million loans in 2009 by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to Deltaventures Resources, Inc. (<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">DVRI)</span>, then led by the late Roberto Ongpin.</p><p>In a decision promulgated by the SC 2nd Division on August 7, 2023, the court said the dismissal of the cases by the Sandiganbayan was improper because the standard of clear lack of probable cause was not observed.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/05/23/roberto-ongpin-one-of-phs-richest-dies-at-86" id="isPasted">• Business tycoon Roberto Ongpin, one of Philippines&#x27; richest, dies at 86</a></div><p>The Supreme Court said the full payment of the two loans acquired by DVRI from DBP does not necessarily take the loans outside the ambit of a behest loan.</p><p>“Therefore, it is only proper that these cases be reinstated, and thereafter, remanded to the Sandiganbayan for a trial on the merits,” the Supreme Court said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio Kho, Jr.</p><p>In the cases filed before the Sandiganbayan by the Office of the Ombudsman, it was alleged that then-DBP president Reynaldo David and chief executive officer Patricia Sto. Tomas and other officials took advantage of their positions and conspired with DVRI then led by Ongpin as general manager.</p><p>The Ombudsman said the loans were granted even if DVRI was undercapitalized with only a paid-up capital of P625,000. It alleged that Ongpin is a crony of accused David.</p><p>The Supreme Court, however, dismissed the cases against Ongpin, David and DBP board member Miguel Romero because of their deaths.</p><p>“Under prevailing law and jurisprudence, an accused’s death prior to their final conviction should result in the dismissal of the criminal case against them,” the Supreme Court said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5av86_hsvYU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Supreme Court said the dismissal of the cases by the Sandiganbayan was improper because the standard of clear lack of probable cause was not observed.</p>

The Supreme Court said the dismissal of the cases by the Sandiganbayan was improper because the standard of clear lack of probable cause was not observed.

SC orders Sandiganbayan to reopen P660-million Ongpin loans case

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SC orders Sandiganbayan to reopen P660-million Ongpin loans case

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 13, 2024 02:27 PM PHT

Read More:

Ongpin case

graft

behest loan

Supreme Court

Sandiganbayan

ANC

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