DBM execs appeal suspension order

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and three DBM employees have asked the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its decision to place them under preventive suspension.

The anti-graft court issued preventive suspension orders against the DBM official and his staff in connection with the graft cases they are facing as co-accused of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

Relampagos, Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare submitted their appeal yesterday asking that the 90-day preventive suspension order against them be set aside.

Dennis Pulma, clerk of court of Sandiganbayan Third Division, said a motion for reconsideration was also filed asking for a reversal of the ruling issued two weeks ago.

Because of the timely filing of the pleading, “the implementation (of the suspension) is held in abeyance until such time that the motions for reconsideration are resolved by the court,” Pulma told The STAR.

Relampagos and other government officials and employees are also respondents in separate graft cases filed against them before the First and Fifth Divisions that are handling the cases of Sens. Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Also ordered suspended were Technology Resource Center accountant Marivic Jover; National Livelihood Development Corp. president Gondelina Amata; and NLDC employees Emmanuel Sevidal, Chita Jalandoni, Sofia Cruz and Gregoria Buenaventura.