ILOILO City – Mayor Jose Espinosa III has words for his estranged brother-in-law Cong. Jerry Treñas: “The evidence against you is strong.”
Espinosa said this following a Sandiganbayan decision that denied Treñas’ plea to dismiss a graft case filed against him over the alleged misuse of the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) worth P500,000.
“Very strongly worded ang hambal sang korte. It is the Sandiganbayan. The evidence of the Ombudsman against you is strong,” said Espinosa.
The motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence that Treñas filed was dismissed for lack of merit, stated in a resolution dated Jan. 28 issued by the 7th Division of Sandiganbayan.
“Korte na ya gahambal. Delikado na if korte na gahambal,” Espinosa said.
The mayor added: “Meaning to say, ang korte nagapati nga the evidence against you is strong and you can be convicted.”
Treñas was accused of misusing the PDAF of Antiqueña senator Loren Legarda intended for the Iloilo Press Club (IPC) in 2003, when the former was still mayor in this city.
“Since accused Treñas is yet to present his case, this Court has no basis to rule that his evidence is clearer and more convincing than what the prosecution has presented,” the Sandiganbayan ruled.
In his motion, Treñas argued that there being no notice of disallowance, there was no basis to say that the issuance of financial assistance from Legarda’s PDAF is a transaction that can be described as illegal, irregular, unnecessary, and extravagant.
He claimed that the prosecution failed to prove that he favored IPC over any other beneficiary since it was Legarda who selected the project.
Legarda has the sole discretion on how her PDAF will be used, Treñas added.
The state prosecutors however maintained that the arguments raised by Treñas were evidentiary matters that are not yet proven.
The prosecution panel also clarified that the liability of Treñas hinges on his act of releasing public funds to a private entity and from his failure to exercise caution in releasing the funds and not because he selected IPC as beneficiary.
“Dali na lang eleksyon atubangon niya lang na,” said Espinosa, adding that the Sandiganbayan decision serves as warning to Treñas./PN
