SC to Sandigan: Re-raffle Dichaves plunder case

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has instructed the Sandiganbayan to re-raffle the plunder case against businessman Jaime Dichaves, who confessed to owning the controversial “Jose Velarde” bank account.

In its Feb. 14 full-court resolution, the SC directed the anti-graft court to re-raffle the case against Dichaves and his co-accused, Yolanda Ricaforte, “among the regular divisions of the Sandiganbayan.” 

Ricaforte, was described in previous reports as the jueteng bagman of Velarde.

The SC declined the request of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to reconstitute a special division to handle Dichaves’ trial.

Last month, the SC instructed the Sandiganbayan to proceed with Dichaves’ arraignment and trial in connection with the account, bared during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, and the irregular purchase, aided by insider trading, of 681,733 shares of stock of Belle Corp., a leisure and gaming firm, for P1.85 billion by the Government Service Insurance System and Social Security System.

The plunder case against Estrada and Dichaves involved ill-gotten wealth amounting to P4.10 billion in “commissions, gifts, shares, percentages, kickbacks, or any form of pecuniary benefits,” including proceeds of illegal gambling, deposited under the “Jose Velarde” account.

The Sandiganbayan, in meting a life sentence on Estrada on Sept. 12, 2007, ruled that Estrada is the “real and beneficial owner” of the “Jose Velarde” account.

Estrada was pardoned by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo six weeks later.