Sandiganbayan orders arrest of Lee and former Bataan mayor for graft

Businessman Cedric Lee (Screenshot from GMA News interview)

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan on Friday ordered the arrest of businessman Cedric Lee and former Mariveles, Bataan mayor Angel Peliglorio Jr., who are both facing graft and malversation charges in connection with the alleged anomalous release of Php23 million worth of public funds for a public market project.

In a press conference, Third Division clerk of court Atty. Dennis Pulma announced that the anti-graft court, in two separate resolutions, has found probable cause to hold Lee and Peliglorio on trial for the graft and malversation cases

“The accused’s motion for judicial determination or probable cause was noted by the court. The court hereby found probable cause for the issuance of warrant of arrest,” Pulma told reporters reading from a copy of the court’s resolution.

He said that based on their records, both Lee and Peliglorio have yet to post bail bonds for their graft and malversation cases.

The anti-graft court has earlier recommended a bail bond of Php30,000 for the graft case and Php40,000 for the malversation case.

“There is no showing that the accused have posted their bail bonds. So, our servers are now on their way to the police stations to give the copies of the warrants of arrest,” Pulma explained.

The cases, which were formally filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan last month, stemmed from the alleged anomalous release of some Php23 million local funds of Mariveles to Lee’s construction firm Izumo Contractors, Inc. for the supposed construction of a public market.

The Ombudsman said that based on its investigation, the fund was released to Izumo “even without procedural safeguards and guarantee of performance,” and that the project has “never commenced.”

Lee had earlier denied the allegation, saying his company was able to deliver to Mariveles government all the studies specified in the Memorandum of Agreement though the actual construction of the market has not commenced.

He also said that the Mariveles government only paid Izumo Php16.540 million although under the MOA, the local government was supposed to pay his company a total of Php24 million.