THE Sandiganbayan on Thursday deferred the arraignment of former Isabela governor Grace Padaca for graft charges in connection with her alleged failure to file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2007 until 2010.
The arraignment was deferred after the government prosecution manifested that they would still amend the case information.
“It is this prosecution that is not ready for the arraignment…We prepared a memorandum to amend the information but it is such that there has to be the approval of the Ombudsman [Conchita Carpio-Morales],” state prosecutor Louella Mae Pesquera said.
She told the anti-graft court’s Second Division that the amendment could be completed “possibly by January.”
“In view of the manifestation of the prosecution that the information [of the case] is still subject to amendment and approval of the Ombudsman, let the arraignment set for today be canceled and deferred to Feb. 18, 2016,” the court said.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed against Padaca four counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for her alleged failure to file her SALN for years 2007 to 2010.
