SECOND DIVISION
GR. NOS. 206310-11 (OMB-0-01-0211 and OMB-0-01 0291; Sandiganbayan Special Division-Criminal Case No. 26558), December 07, 2016
JAIME DICHAVES, Petitioner, v. OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND THE SPECIAL DIVISION OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN, Respondents.
D E C I S I O N
LEONEN, J.:
This resolves a Petition for Certiorari1 assailing the Office of the Ombudsman's finding of probable cause to charge petitioner Jaime Dichaves with plunder. Petitioner prays for the annulment of the March 14, 2012 Joint Resolution2 and February 4, 2013 Order3 of the Office of the Ombudsman in OMB-0-01-0211 and OMB-0-01-0291,4 which resolved the two complaints filed in 2001.5
The first complaint, docketed as OMB-0-01-0211, accuses Jaime Dichaves and William Gatchalian, among others,6 of direct bribery, indirect bribery, corruption of public officials, violations of Presidential Decree No. 467 and Republic Act No. 6713,8 and plunder under Republic Act No. 7080, in connection with the "Jose Velarde" account9 of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada (Estrada).10
Private complainants are Atty. Leonard De Vera, Atty. Romeo T. Capulong, Atty. Dennis B. Funa, Dante Jimenez (representing the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption), and Jesus E.G. Martinez (representing the Citizens' Battle Against Corruption Party List).11
The second complaint, docketed as OMB-0-01-0291, accuses Jaime Dichaves; then President and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System, Federico "Ping" Pascual; then President and Chairman of the Social Security System, Carlos "Chuckie" Arellano; and Belle Corporation Vice Chairman and Director Willy Ng Ocier, among others,12 of violating Republic Act No. 6713, Section 3 (a), (e), (g), and (i) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and plunder under Republic Act No. 7080.13 The charges are in connection with the purchase, upon Estrada's instructions,14 of shares of stock of a private corporation by government financial institutions.15
Private complainants are Atty. Leonard De Vera (representing Caucus of Lawyers for Estrada's Abrupt Resignation), Atty. Romeo T. Capulong (representing OUSTER), Atty. Crisostomo M. Akol (representing CLAMOR), Dante Jimenez (representing Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption), and Atty. Roberto Argee Guevarra (representing ARM).16
The consolidated complaints trace their roots to the contents of the sealed second envelope, Estrada's impeachment trial, and his plunder trial before the Sandiganbayan in People v. Estrada (Criminal Case No. 26558).17
On November 13, 2000, the House of Representatives impeached Estrada for bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution.18 After Estrada's impeachment, it was reported that Dichaves fled the country "and cooled his heels off in China[.]"19
On December 7, 2000, the Senate next proceeded with the impeachment proceedings against Estrada.20 On January 16, 2001, 11 senators voted against opening a sealed second envelope allegedly containing damaging evidence against Estrada21 and Jaime Dichaves, among others.22 This move caused the House prosecution panel to stage a walkout, triggered EDSA 2, and eventually led to Estrada's downfall.23
By January 20, 2001, Estrada was considered resigned as president, and, therefore, no longer immune to criminal prosecution.24
On April 4, 2001, the Office of the Ombudsman filed an information charging Estrada, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, Charlie "Atong" Ang, Edward Serapio, Yolanda T. Ricaforte, Alma Alfaro, Eleuterio Tan (also known as Eleuterio Ramos Tan or Mr. Uy), Jane Doe (also known as Delia Rajas), and several John and Jane Does with plunder before the Sandiganbayan.25 The case was docketed as Criminal Case No. 26558 (People v. Estrada).26
Dichaves was subsequently identified as one of the John Does in People v. Estrada.27 The complaints were docketed at the Office of the Ombudsman as OMB-0-01-0211 and OMB-0-01-0291.28 While the preliminary investigation proceedings in these complaints were being conducted, Dichaves was nowhere to be found in the Philippines.29
On April 18, 2001, the Office of the Ombudsman filed an Amended Information for plunder against Estrada, et al.30
On September 13, 2001, the Ombudsman jointly resolved OMB-0-01-0211 and OMB-0-01-0291, finding probable cause to also indict Dichaves for plunder under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7080.31 The dispositive portion reads:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
WHEREFORE, this Office finds and so holds that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that probable cause exists that the crime of Plunder was committed by respondent Jaime Dichaves in conspiracy with former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and others already accused under Criminal Case No. 26558 pending in the 3rd Division of the Sandiganbayan.chanrobleslaw
Accordingly, let JAIME C. DICHAVES be prosecuted for Plunder in the Sandiganbayan through a motion to substitute him as one of the John Does in the cases pending in the Sandiganbayan under Criminal Case No. 26558.
And having been accorded immunity from prosecution, the charges against respondents Federico Pascual, Carlos Arellano and Willie Ocier are hereby dropped.32
The undersigned Ombudsman Prosecutor and OIC [Officer-in-Charge]-Director, EPIB, Office of the Ombudsman, hereby accuses former PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Joseph Ejercito Estrada a.k.a. "ASIONG SALONGA" and a.k.a. "JOSE VELARDE[,]" together with Jose ["]Jinggoy["] Estrada, Charlie "Atong" Ang, Edward Serapio, Yolanda T. Ricafort, Alma Alfaro, JOHN DOE a.k.a. Eleuterio Tan OR Eleuterio Ramos Tan or Mr. Uy, Jane Doe a.k.a. Delia Rajas, JAIME C. DICHAVES and John DOES & Jane Does, of the crime of Plunder, defined and penalized under [Republic Act No.] 7080, as amended by Sec. 12 of [Republic Act No.] 7659, committed as follows:cralawlawlibrarychanrobleslaw
That during the period from June 1998 to January 2001, in the Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, accused Joseph Ejercito Estrada, THEN A PUBLIC OFFICER, BEING THEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, by himself AND/OR in CONNIVANCE/CONSPIRACY with his co accused, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY, RELATIVES BY AFFINITY OR CONSANGUINITY, BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, SUBORDINATES AND /OR OTHER PERSONS, BY TAKING UNDUE ADVANTAGE OF HIS OFFICIAL POSITION, AUTHORITY, RELATIONSHIP, CONNECTION, OR INFLUENCE, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and criminally amass, accumulate and acquire BY HIMSELF, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ill-gotten wealth in the aggregate amount OR TOTAL VALUE OF FOUR BILLION NINETY SEVEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE PESOS AN[D] SEVENTEEN CENTAVOS [P4,097,804,173.17] more or less. THEREBY UNJUSTLY ENRICHING HIMSELF OR THEMSELVES AT THE EXPENSE AND TO THE DAMAGE OF THE [F]ILIPINO PEOPLE AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, through ANY OR A combination OR A series of overt OR criminal acts, or SIMILAR SCHEMES OR MEANS, described as follows:cralawlawlibrary
...chanrobleslaw
(c) By directing, ordering and compelling, FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN AND BENEFIT, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) TO PURCHASE 351,878,000 SHARES OF STOCKS. MORE OR LESS, and the Social Security System (SSS) 329,855,000 SHARES OF STOCKS, MORE OR LESS, OF THE BELLE CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF MORE OR LESS ONE BILLION ONE HUNDRED TWO MILLION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVEN PESOS AND FIFTY CENTAVOS [P1,102,965,607.50[]] AND MORE OR LESS SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY FOUR MILLION SIX HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND AND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS [P744,612,450.00], RESPECTIVELY, OR A TOTAL OF MORE OR LESS ONE BILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND FIFTY SEVEN PESOS AND FIFTY CENTAVOS [P1,847,578,057.50]; AND BY COLLECTING OR RECEIVING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY HIMSELF AND/OR IN CONNIVANCE WITH JAIME C. DICHAVES, JOHN DOES AND JANE DOES, COMMISSIONS OR PERCENTAGES BY REASON OF SAID PURCHASES OF SHARES OF STOCK IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED PESOS [P189,700,000.00] MORE OR LESS FROM THE BELLE CORPORATION WHICH BECAME PART OF THE DEPOSIT IN THE EQUITABLE-PCI BANK UNDER THE ACCOUNT NAME, "JOSE VALERDE"; (d) by unjustly enriching himself FROM COMMISSIONS, GIFTS, SHARES, PERCENTAGES, KICKBACKS, OR ANY FORM OF PECUNIARY BENEFITS, IN CONNIVANCE, WITH JAIME C. DICHAVES, JOHN DOES AND JANE DOES, in the amount of MORE OR LESS, THREE BILLION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY THREE MILLION ONE HUNDRED FOUR THOUSAND AND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE PESOS AND SEVENTEEN CENTAVOS [P3,233,104,173.17] AND DEPOSITING THE SAME UNDER HIS ACCOUNT NAME "JOSE VELARDE[") AT THE EQUITABLE-PCI BANK[.]
CONTRARY TO LAW[.]33 (Emphasis and underscoring in the original)
WHEREFORE, as probable cause lies against respondent JAIME C. DICHAVES for Plunder, his indictment therefor by Amended Information dated April 18, 2001 before the Sandiganbayan in Criminal Case No. 26558 remains.chanrobleslaw
SO RESOLVED.51
Complainants aver that the above-listed amounts of deposits were given to Estrada "by reason of his influential and powerful position as [then] President of the Republic of the Philippines[,]"93 and that he amassed P3.3 billion in his one (1) and a half years in office.94 Deposited in the account were proceeds of illegal gambling, kickbacks, and commissions.95 According to complainants, Estrada obtained these amounts mainly from "contributions, gifts, commissions, deposits and the like, made by businessmen-friends and cronies[,] to his 'JOSE VELARDE' account."96
- Jaime or Abby, Dichavez (sic) - P20M check dated 8 September 1999 from Far East Bank Cubao, Araneta Branch and a P189.7M Check dated 8 November 1999 all amounting to a total of P210 Million;ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
- Mark Jimenez P180 Million;ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
- Manny Pangilinan P20M deposited in the Velarde Account on November 5, 1999 issued from Pangilinan's checking account no. 009-101-00166-3 with Asian Bank main office;ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
- Dante Tan P300M;ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
- Kevin/Kelvin Garcia - nine (9) checks for P10M, five (5) checks for 5 million and three (3) checks for P20 million, total of 17 checks from Allied Bank head office branch with an aggregate amount of P180 million;ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
- Antonio Evangelista a P40 million check dated July 25, 2000 from his checking account no. 00686-5-05053-2 with BPI [Bank of the Philippine Islands] Katipunan Loyola;ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
and - George Go, Lucio Co and William Gatchalian for still undetennined amounts ...92 (Emphasis supplied)
chanrobleslaw...
3. MR. JAIME DICHAVES is a second cousin whom I know quite well. I know for a fact that he is closely associated with former president JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA having helped immensely in the election campaign of the latter in 1992 and 1998.
4. In June 1999, MR. JAIME DICHAVES was voted in as member of the Board of Directors of BELLE CORPORATION, hence, we became Board Members at the same time.
5. On the occasion of one of the board meetings of the corporation in September 1999 held at its principal office located at the 26th Floor East Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Centre, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, MR. DICHAVES came up to me in private and discussed the matter of the 750 million shares of stock of BELLE Corporation. Twenty- five percent (25%) of the subscriptions to these shares of stock has already been paid, leaving an unpaid balance of 75%. The average price was P2.344 per share for a gross value of P1,758,000,000.00 [P1.758. billion]. Out of these figures the unpaid balance stood at P1,318,500,000.00.chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary...
8. At this point, it appeared that the only remaining possible investor is the government through the government financial institutions (GFIs). MR. JAIME DICHAVES [later] confirmed to me that he had brought the matter up with the President Estrada who in turn assured him that the latter would "take care of the matter".
9. True enough, in one of our weekends at the Tagaytay Highlands, MR. DICHAVES and I discussed the planned investments of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) in Belle Corporation. I asked DICHAVES for any news or development on his talks with JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA who was the President of the country at that time. After these inquiries, I was given the firm assurance that "Ding" (referring to GSIS President and General Manager FEDERICO C. PASCUAL) and "Chuckie" (referring to SSS President and Chairman CARLOS ARELLANO) were already given the instructions by the President to purchase Belle shares.
10. Thereafter, I would make follow-up calls to DICHAVES regarding the plan of the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), particularly during the early part of October 1999. During one of our telephone conversations it was explicitly stated by JAIME DICHAVES that GSIS and SSS would push thru with the transactions only if I agree to give him the profit commission to be derived from the sale of Belle shares to GSIS and SSS as instructed to him by President JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA. Fearing that the transactions would not proceed if I did not agree to the proposition of DICHAVES, I was constrained to agree to the arrangement.
11. On October 21, 1999, out of the 750,000,000 BEL [Belle Corporation] shares of stock we intended to sell, about 447,650,000 million were sold by way of cross-transaction on the market. As aforesaid, these shares of stock were then being held by SSI Management Corporation....
12. On November 3, 1999, at or around 10:30 o'clock in the evening, I went to the residence of MR. JAIME DICHAVES at No. 19 Madrigal Avenue, Corinthian Gardens, Quezon City, to hand him a company check in the amount of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P189,700,000.00) issued by Eastern Securities Development Corporation.
13. This amount, under I-Bank Check No. 6000159271, after deducting costs of purchase, capital gains tax, broker fees, sales tax and other fees, represented the profit commission generated from the sale of about 447,650,000 BEL [Belle Corporation] shares which were previously covered by the unpaid subscription of SSI Management Corporation for 650,000,000 shares, of which 25% (TWENTY FIVE PERCENT) was already paid for.
14. As agreed upon, I personally handed the check representing the amount of the profit commission derived out of the sale of the shares of BELLE to GSIS and SSS to MR. JAIME DICHAVES in the living room of his residence. This was done pursuant to our earlier agreement that all profit commissions to be derived out of the sale shall be handed to MR. DICHAVES for subsequent remittance in accordance with the instructions given him by President JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA. Thereafter, he said "Thank you". We then sat down to discuss the breakdown of costs and I was asked to explain to him how the said figure of P189,700,000.00 was arrived at.115
After a few weeks, Dichaves called Ocier and told the latter [Ocier] that the transaction may be pushing through but that Dichaves wanted to take up a matter of condition that was proposed for the transaction to push through which was to the effect that Ocier will have to give a commission for the transaction to push through. Ocier testified that since the shares involved was approximately 600,000,000 to 650,000,000 and the price of Belle at that time at about P3.00 per share, the total expected proceeds of the sale was almost Two Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) and the commission that Jaime was asking for amounted to Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200,000,000.00).chanrobleslaw
When asked to whom the commission should be given, Ocier answered that according to Dichaves, the condition was being imposed by [former President] Estrada. When asked for his reaction to the information conveyed by Dichaves that it was [former President] Estrada that imposed the condition, Ocier testified that his reaction was that he felt that it was quite a big amount of commission to be paid and that normally, in real estate and stock transactions, commissions range between three (3) to five (5) percent only and he told Dichaves that he finds that quite high, to which Dichaves answered that "that was the condition." When asked what his answer was to the answer of Dichaves that that was the condition, Ocier answered that he was constrained to agree because Dichaves told him that "that was the only way for the transaction to push through." Ocier further testified that on October 21, 1999, Belle shares totaling 447,650,000 were sold by SSI Management to GSIS and SSS through Eastern Securities Development Corporation while other Belle Shares were sold through other brokers.118 (Citations omitted)
III
IV
[T]he functions of the courts will be grievously hampered by innumerable petitions assailing the dismissal of investigatory proceedings conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman with regard to complaints filed before it, in much the same way that the courts would be extremely swamped if they could be compelled to review the exercise of discretion on the part of the fiscals or prosecuting attorneys each time they decide to file an information in court or dismiss a complaint by a private complaint.138chanrobleslaw
V
Grave abuse of discretion implies a capricious and whimsical exercise of judgment tantamount to lack of jurisdiction. The Ombudsman's exercise of power must have been done in an arbitrary or despotic manner — which must be so patent and gross as to amount to an evasion of a positive duty or a virtual refusal to perform the duty enjoined or to act at all in contemplation of law — in order to exceptionally warrant judicial intervention.142chanrobleslaw
In determining probable cause, the average [person] weighs facts and circumstances without resorting to the calibrations of the rules of evidence of which he [or she] has no technical knowledge. He [or she] relies on common sense.159chanrobleslaw
Section 3, Rule 112 [Preliminary Investigation] of the Rules of Court expressly provides that the respondent shall only have the right to submit a counter-affidavit, to examine all other evidence submitted by the complainant and, where the fiscal sets a hearing to propound clarificatory questions to the parties or their witnesses, to be afforded an opportunity to be present but without the right to examine or cross-examine.... The admissibility or inadmissibility of said testimonies should be ventilated before the trial court during the trial proper[,] and not in the preliminary investigation.163 (Emphasis supplied)chanrobleslaw
[T]he evidence indicates that the former President exerted influence over Arellano and Pascual to push through with the transactions, and that the transactions pushed through under that condition that the commission or profit would be given to the former President; . . . that it was Dichaves who orchestrated the consummation of the transactions and received from Ocier the check representing the commission; and that Dichaves deposited the check to the "JOSE VEDARDE" account which was shown to be that of the former President.168 (Emphasis in the original)chanrobleslaw
Endnotes:
* Designated additional member per Raffle dated November 23, 2016.
1Rollo, pp. 3-29.
2 Id. at 31-62.
3 Id. at 63-68.
4 Id. at 26, Petition for Certiorari.
5 Id. at 173, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
6 The other persons charged are Abby Dichaves, Mark Jimenez, Manny Pangilinan, George Go, Dante Tan, Lucio Co, Kevin/Kelvin Garcia and Atty. Fernando Chua.
7 Making it Punishable for Public Officials and Employees to Receive, and for Private Persons to Give, Gifts on any Occasion, including Christmas.
8 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees.
9Rollo, p. 35, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
10People v. Estrada, Sandiganbayan Criminal Case No. 26558, September 12, 2007. The Decision was penned by Presiding Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro (now Associate Justice) and concurred in by Associate Justices Francisco H. Villaruz Jr. and Diosdado M. Peralta (now Associate Justice) of the Sandiganbayan Special Division.
11Rollo, p. 35, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
12 Id. at 55, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution. The other persons charged were Mark Jimenez, Hermogenes D. Concepcion, Leonora Vasquez-De Jesus, Reynaldo P. Palmiery, Elmer T. Bautista, Fulgencio S. Factoran, Fioriño O. Ibañez, Aida C. Nocete, Leovigildo P. Arellano, Dody R. Agcaoili, Rafael Estrada, Amado B. Almazan, Aurora R. Arnaez, Marianita O. Mendoza, Cecilio T. Seno, Miguel Varela, Aurora P. Mathay, Enriqueta P. Disuanco, Amalio M. Mallari, and Fernando Gaite, Jr.
13 An Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder.
14People v. Estrada, Sandiganbayan Criminal Case No. 26558, September 12, 2007.
15 Rollo, pp. 35-36, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
16Rollo, pp. 35-36, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
17 The Decision was promulgated on September 12, 2007.
18 J. Vitug, Concurring Opinion, and J. Mendoza, Concurring Opinion in Estrada v. Desierto, 406 Phil. 1, 86, 100-101 (2001) [Per J. Puno, En Banc].
19 Malou Guanzon-Apalisok, Jaime Dichaves uncovered, INQUIRER.NET, APRIL 5, 2012 < http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/172533/jaime-dichaves-uncovered > (last visited November 23, 2016).
20 J. Mendoza, Concurring Opinion in Estrada v. Desierto, 406 Phil. 1, 101 (2001) [Per J. Puno, En Banc].
21Estrada v. Desierto, 406 Phil. 31-32 (2001) [Per J. Puno, En Banc].
22Rollo, pp. 38-39, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
23Estrada v. Desierto, 406 Phil. 74 (2001) [Per J. Puno, En Banc].
24 Id. at 47-60.
25 People v. Estrada, Sandiganbayan Criminal Case No. 26558, September 12, 2007.
26 Id.
27Rollo, p. 42, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
28 Id. at 34.
29 Id. at 173, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
30 Id. at 42-45, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
31 Id. at 41 and 60.
32 Id. at 248, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
33 Id. at 44-45, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
34 ld. at 173, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum, and 249, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
35 Id. at 174, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
36 Id. at 173.
37 Id. at 174.
38 Id. at 37-38, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
39 Id. at 174, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
40The Wellex Group, Inc. v. Sandiganbayan, 689 Phil. 44, 64 (2012) [Per J. Sereno (now C.J.), Second Division).
41 Manny Mogato, Former Philippine president Estrada pardoned, REUTERS, October 25, 2007 < http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-philippines-estrada-idUKMNB0007120071025 > (last visited November 23, 2016).
42Rollo, p. 174, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
43 Id.
44 Id.
45 Id. at 250, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
46 Id.
47 Id.
48 Id. at 74, Jaime Dichaves' Motion for Reconsideration.
49 Id. at 250, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
50 Id. at 251.
51 Id. at 61, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
52 Id. at 63-68. The Order was penned by Assistant Special Prosecutor III Kristine Jennifer E. Carreon, Assistant Ombudsman Elvira C. Chua, and Deputy Special Prosecutor John I.C. Turalba, and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
53 Id. at 59-61, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
54 Id. at 252, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
55 Id. at 26, Petition for Certiorari.
56 Id. at 252, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
57 Id.
58 Id. at 108, Supreme Court Resolution dated July 17, 2013.
59 Id. at 252, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
60 Id. at 130, Supreme Court Resolution dated September 18, 2013.
61 Id. at 151, Supreme Court Resolution dated February 3, 2014.
62 Id. at 269-271.
63 Id. at 349-350, Supreme Court Resolution dated January 26, 2015.
64 Id. at 348-352.
65 Id. at 353-357.
66 Id. at 361-364, Supreme Court Resolution dated September 23, 2015.
67 Id. at 380, Supreme Court Resolution dated December 9, 2015.
68 Id.
69 Id. at 387-390, Jaime Dichaves' Motion to be Allowed to Accompany 89-year old Mother Elena Dichaves for a Family Reunion in Hong Kong (sic) and Tokyo (3rd Travel Request) for Fifteen (15) Days.
70 Id. at 392-395, Supreme Court Resolution dated March 9, 2016.
71 Id. at 459, Supreme Court Resolution dated September 14, 2016.
72 Id.
73 Id.
74 Id. at 439, Supreme Court Resolution dated June 15, 2016.
75 Id. at 445, Jaime Dichaves' Affidavit.
76 Id. at 456-461.
77 Id. at 460.
78 Id.
79 This Savings Account Number, opened under the name "Jose Velarde," is also mentioned in The Wellex Group, Inc. v. Sandiganbayan, 689 Phil. 44, 64 (2012) [Per J. Sereno (now C.J.), Second Division].
80Rollo, p. 37, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
81 Id.
82 Id.
83 Id.
84 Id. at 52.
85 The Wellex Group, Inc. v. Sandiganbayan, 689 Phil. 44, 53 (2012) [Per J. Sereno (now C.J.), Second Division].
86 Id. at 57-59.
87Rollo, pp. 49-50, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
88 The Wellex Group, Inc. v. Sandiganbayan, 689 Phil. 44, 58-64 (2012) [Per J. Sereno (now C.J.), Second Division].
89 Marc Jayson Cayabyab, 'Plastics King' Gatchalian posts bail in anomalous bank buyout deal, INQUIRER.NET, July 20, 2016 < http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/797449/plastics-king-gatchalian-posts-bail-in-anomalous-bank-buyout-deal > (last visited November 23, 2016).
90 Rollo, pp. 48-49, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
91 Id. at 38.
92 Id. at 38.
93 Id. at 39.
94 Id.
95 Id. at 173, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
96 Id. at 39, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
97 Id. at 47.
98 Id. at 51.
99 Id. at 51-52.
100 Id. at 39.
101 Mission, Vision and Values Statement, Bellecorp < http://www.bellecorp.com/our-company/mission-vision-values-statement > (last visited November 23, 2016).
102Rollo, p. 54, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
103People v. Estrada, Sandiganbayan Criminal Case No. 26558, September 12, 2007.
104 Id.
105Rollo, p. 54, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
106 Id. at 39-40.
107 Id. at 40.
108 Former Chief State Prosecutor is PDIC Director, PHILIPPINE DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION < https://www.pdic.gov.ph/index.php?nid1=8&nid2=1&nid=464 > (last visited November 23, 2016).
109Rollo, p. 40, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
110 Id.
111 Id.
112 Id. at 40-41.
113 Id. at 53-54.
114 Id.
115 Id. at 54-56.
116 Id. at 178, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
117 People v. Estrada, Sandiganbayan Criminal Case No. 26558, September 12, 2007.
118 Id.
119Rollo, p. 38, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
120 Id. at 41.
121 Id. at 79-80, Jaime Dichaves' Motion for Reconsideration. These are as follows: Ocier's Affidavit dated March 2, 2001, his testimony before the Senate Impeachment Court in 2000, and his testimony before the Office of the Ombudsman during the trial of People v. Estrada in 2001.
122 Id. at 56, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
123 Id. at 86, Jaime Dichaves' Motion for Reconsideration.
124Judge Angeles v. Ombudsman Gutierrez, et al., 685 Phil. 183, 193 (2012) [Per J. Sereno (now C.J.), Second Division].
125 CONST., art. XI, sec. 12 provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibraryARTICLE XI. Accountability of Public Officerschanrobleslaw
SECTION 12. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, as protectors of the people, shall act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials or employees of the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and shall, in appropriate cases, notify the complainants of the action taken and the result thereof.
126 An Act Providing for the Functional and Structural Organization of the Office of the Ombudsman, and for Other Purposes (1989).
127PCGG v. Hon. Desierto, 445 Phil 154, 165 (2003) [Per J. Panganiban, Third Division]; Quiambao v. Hon. Desierto, 481 Phil. 852, 867 (2004) [Per J. Ynares-Santiago, First Division].
128 Republic v. Ombudsman Desierto, 541 Phil. 57, 67 (2007) [Per J. Azcuna, First Division].
129 CONST., art. XI, sec. 5 provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibraryARTICLE XI. Accountability of Public Officerschanrobleslaw
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SECTION 5. There is hereby created the independent Office of the Ombudsman, composed of the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan, one overall Deputy and at least one Deputy each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A separate Deputy for the military establishment may likewise be appointed.
130Presidential Ad Hoc Fact-Finding Committee on Behest Loans v. Ombudsman Desierto, 415 Phil. 145, 151 (2001) [Per J. Pardo, En Banc].
131 Esquivel v. Hon. Ombudsman, 431 Phil. 702, 711 (2002) [Per J. Quisumbing, Second Division]; Presidential Commission on Good Government v. Hon. Desierto, 563 Phil. 517, 525 (2007) [Per J. Nachura, Third Division].
132Ledesma v. Court of Appeals, 344 Phil. 207, 226-228 (1997) [Per J. Panganiban, Third Division].
133 People v. Court of Appeals, 361 Phil. 401, 410-413 (1999) [Per J. Panganiban, Third Division].
134 Id. at 415-416, citing Pilapil v. Sandiganbayan, 293 Phil. 368, 381-382 (1993) [Per J. Nocon, En Banc].
135 CONST., art. XI, sec. 13(1).
136Republic v. Ombudsman Desierto, 541 Phil. 57, 67 (2007) [Per J. Azcuna, First Division].
137 541 Phil. 57 (2007) [Per J. Azcuna, First Division].
138 Id. at 67-68.
139 Rollo, pp. 181-182, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
140 CONST., art. VIII, sec. 1.
141 687 Phil. 468 (2012) [Per J. Brion, Second Division].
142 Id. at 476.
143Rollo, pp. 172, Jaime Dichaves' Memorandum.
144 Id. at 193-194.
145Estrada v. Office of the Ombudsman, G.R. Nos. 212140-41, January 21, 2015, 748 SCRA 1, 39 [Per J. Carpio, En Banc].
146Hashim v. Boncan, 71 Phil. 216, 225 (1941) [Per J. Laurel, En Banc].
147Estrada v. Office of the Ombudsman, G.R. Nos. 212140-41, January 21, 2015, 748 SCRA 1, 39 [Per J. Carpio, En Banc].
148 Id.
149 Id. at 40.
150 CONST., art. III, sec. 14(2), provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibraryARTICLE III. Bill of Rightschanrobleslaw
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SECTION 14...
(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence in his behalf. However, after arraignment, trial may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused provided that he has been duly notified and his failure to appear is unjustifiable.
151Estrada v. Office of the Ombudsman, Q.R. Nos. 212140-41, January 21, 2015, 748 SCRA 1, 46 [Per J. Carpio, En Banc].
152 Id.
153 Id. at 45.
154 Malou Guanzon-Apalisok, Jaime Dichaves uncovered, INQUIRER.NET, APRIL 5, 2012 < http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/172533/jaime-dichaves-uncovered > (last visited November 23, 2016).
155Rollo, p. 226, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
156Estrada v. Office of the Ombudsman, G.R. Nos. 212140-41, January 21, 2015, 748 SCRA 1, 40 [Per J. Carpio, En Banc].
157Atty. Salvador v. Hon. Desierto, 464 Phil. 988, 997 (2004) [Per J. Sandoval-Gutierrez, Third Division].
158 633 Phil. 160 (2010) [Per J. Peralta, Third Division].
159 Id. at 170.
160Galario v. Office of the Ombudsman (Mindanao), 554 Phil. 86, 101 (2007) [Per J. Chico-Nazario, Third Division].
161Kalalo v. Office of the Ombudsman, et al., 633 Phil. 169-170 (2010) [Per J. Peralta, Third Division].
162 273 Phil. 290 (1991) [Per J. Regalado, En Banc).
163 Id. at 299-300.
164 Rollo, pp. 32-42, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
165 Id. at 259, Office of the Ombudsman's Memorandum.
166 Id. at 74, Jaime Dichaves' Motion for Reconsideration.
167Reyes v. Hon. Ombudsman GR. Nos. 212593-94, March 15, 2016 < http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=:/jurisprudence/2016/march2016/212593-94.pdf > 3 [Per J. Bernabe, En Banc], citing Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160 (1949).
168Rollo, pp. 59-60, Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution.
169Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Ramiscal, Jr. v. Sandiganbayan, et al., 645 Phil. 69, 82 (2010) [Per J. Carpio, Second Division].
170Galario v. Office of the Ombudsman (Mindanao), 554 Phil. 86, 101 (2007) [Per J. Chico-Nazario, Third Division].
171Tigas v. Office of the Ombudsman, 706 Phil. 503, 509 (2013) [Per C.J. Sereno, First Division].
172Republic v. Ombudsman Desierto, 541 Phil 57, 67 (2007) [Per J. Azcuna, First Division].