DOJ wants Legacy case moved to another court

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) wants the criminal case against Celso de los Angeles and other officers of the Legacy group of companies transferred from a Cagayan de Oro court that approved his transfer to a condominium in the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) compound in Quezon City.

This developed as Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera belied allegations by Sen. Manuel Roxas II that she connived with De los Angeles in securing the businessman’s transfer from the SLMC to the condominium.

In a press conference, Devanadera said fiscals would seek the transfer of the syndicated estafa case from the sala of Cagayan de Oro Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Florencia Sealana–Abbu to another branch of the RTC for “better management of cases.”

“There are many cases against De los Angeles in various courts nationwide and we can later on seek consolidation of theses cases in court for better prosecution,” she said.

Devanadera said the DOJ prosecutors handling the case were not able to oppose the motion because the notices were wrongfully sent to the Office of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission and not to DOJ.

She said it was only after the RTC issued the order for the transfer on Dec. 14, 2009 when the DOJ learned about the proceedings. Fiscals then immediately filed a motion seeking reconsideration of the court order.

The DOJ chief reiterated that they would move for De los Angeles to be put in jail since he no longer needs to stay in the hospital and is fit for trial.

Devanadera also revealed that she has tapped a new panel of prosecutors headed by Senior State Prosecutor Emilie delos Santos to handle all cases against De los Angeles and his Legacy firms all over the country. – Edu Punay