Ex-Iloilo lawmaker pleads not guilty to graft chargehome/News/Regions/Ex-Iloilo lawmaker pleads not guilty to graft chargeFormer Iloilo 5th District Rep. Rolex Suplico pleaded not guilty to the graft charge he was facing before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division in connection with P14.7-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). The anti-graft court proceeded with the arraignment after it denied his plea to nullify the charge sheet. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the case in October 2018 against Suplico; Antonio Ortiz, former director general of the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC); and Alfredo Ronquillo, then-president of Aaron Foundation Philippines Inc., the supposed beneficiary of PDAF. The Ombudsman charged that Aaron Foundation was ineligible to undertake the projects for lack of permit and has supposedly “dubious existence.” In November 2018 Suplico’s camp sought the nullification of the charge sheet, citing his right to speedy case disposition was violated due to inordinate delay. They claimed that it took the Office of the Ombudsman over eight years, seven months and 13 days to resolve the complaint-affidavit.

Source: Manila Times February 26, 2019 16:43 UTC