Honasan posts P60k bail on graft raps

The booking procedures were earlier conducted at the Binan City police station before proceeding to the RTC. (PNA PHOTO)

MANILA, Aug. 11— Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan on Friday posted a PHP60,000 bail for the 2 counts of graft charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan on the alleged misuse of his PHP30-million priority development assistance fund (PDA) in 2012.

Accompanied by his lawyer Atty. Dennis Manalo, Honasan posted bail at the Binan City, Laguna Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 25.

The booking procedures were earlier conducted at the Binan City police station before proceeding to the RTC.

The court sheriff will deliver to the Sandiganbayan the posted bail within the day for the information and appropriate action of the anti-graft court.

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Honasan in connection with the alleged PHP30-million pork barrel fund scam.

The anti-graft court issued the warrant of arrest for the case of violation of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”, which was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman’s (Ombudsman) Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) against Honasan.

“The Court finds that there is sufficient probable cause to hold the accused in this case for trial and issue a warrant of arrest for them,” the Sandiganbayan Second Division resolution said.

“After perusing the information and carefully evaluating the Joint Resolution dated Aug. 9, 2016 and Joint Order dated April 12, 2017 both of the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as the supporting evidence, conformably with Section 5(a), Rule 112 of the Rules of Court, the Court finds that there is sufficient probable cause to hold the accused in this case for trial and issue a warrant of arrest against them,” the resolution added.

Likewise ordered arrested are Honasan’s coordinator Michael Benjamin and former officials of the National Council for Muslim Filipino (NCMF), namely: Mehol Sadain, Fedelina Aldanese, Galay Makalinggan, Aurora Aragon-Mabang and Olga Galido.

Also included in the case are the officials of the Focus Development Goals Foundation, Inc., namely: Giovanni Manuel Gaerlan and Salvador Gaerlan.

Honasan allotted his PDAF to the NCMF, but it was found there was an alleged anomalous utilization of the PDAF.

In the record of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the PHP30-million PDAF was released in 2012.