CA upholds estafa case vs Bro. Eddie

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the indictment of Jesus Is Lord Movement Church Worldwide founder and defeated presidential candidate Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in an estafa case.

In an 18-page decision, the 17th division of the appellate court dismissed the petition of Villanueva questioning a DOJ resolution that affirmed findings of probable cause by the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office in the estafa case filed against him on Feb. 17, 2005.

Through Associate Justice Mariflor Punzalan Castillo, the CA held that the television evangelist, who owns Zoe Broadcasting Network (ZBN), had failed to prove that the DOJ committed grave abuse of discretion in its findings.

The CA also cited its rule not to intervene in the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

In a resolution, the Mandaluyong prosecutor’s office ordered the filing of estafa charges against Villanueva for receiving a P15-million “goodwill money” from the Entertainment Network Limited (ENL) for the joint venture agreement in the management and operation of Channel 11.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Benito Araneta of ENL before the fiscal against Villanueva when Araneta discovered that ZBN entered into an agreement with VTV Corp. for the sole management of Channel 11 even before they signed a joint venture agreement on June 15, 2002.

The DOJ, during the time of Secretary Raul Gonzalez, ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to help in the implementation of a warrant of arrest issued by the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court against Villanueva.

Villanueva claimed that the estafa case was a form of harassment by the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He said the complainant was a relative of Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo.