Napoles, Valdez arraigned before Sandiganbayan

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. (Photo from Sen. Bam Aquino’s official Facebook page)

MANILA –- Sandiganbayan Fifth Division entered not guilty plea in behalf of ex-Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) Rep. Edgar Valdez while his co-accused alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles pleaded not guilty during their arraignment Monday.

Fifth Division Chairman and Associate Justice Roland Jurado said both Valdez and Napoles were facing plunder and graft cases which were not bailable.

Napoles is already facing three other plunder charges and 42 graft cases before three divisions of Sandiganbayan after being named co-accused of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.

Earlier, Sandiganbayan denied Valdez’ motion to place him under hospital arrest due to conflicting allegations submitted to the anti-graft court.

Valdez was charged of plunder and seven counts of graft in connection with the alleged conversion of Php57.79 million PDAF into his own personal benefit out of the Php95 million pork funds channeled to his office from 2007 to 2009.

Jurado, together with his members Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez Estuesta, ordered Valdez to be confined at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

The anti-graft court said the denial of Valdez plea was because the medical certificate submitted was dated July 9, 2013 and was not signed by his attending physician, Dr. Remo Tito Aguilar of St. Louis Hospital in New Isabela, Tacurong City.