Floirendo granted provisional liberty

MANILA, Philippines — After upholding his conviction for graft, the Sandiganbayan allowed former Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. to continue enjoying his provisional liberty pending the resolution of his appeal filed before the Supreme Court (SC).

Floirendo was convicted of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for having financial interests in a company doing business with the government.

In a resolution promulgated on Feb. 1, the Sandiganbayan said Floirendo filed a notice of appeal and paid the necessary docket and legal fees amounting to P3,035 for his extended provisional liberty.

Floirendo previously posted bail amounting to P30,000 when the case was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2018.

He posted an additional P30,000 in August last year after the anti-graft court convicted him of graft.

On Jan. 22, the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division upheld his conviction.

In allowing his continuous provisional liberty, the court noted that Floirendo received the copy of the resolution upholding his conviction only on Jan. 24.

Four days after receiving the copy of the resolution, Floirendo filed a notice of appeal and informed the Sandiganbayan that he would raise his case before the high tribunal.

The Sixth Division cited a provision of the 2018 Revised Rules of the Sandiganbayan, which allows an accused to question a ruling before the SC, provided that a notice of appeal is timely filed.

The ombudsman did not object to the grant of provisional liberty to Floirendo, pending the filing of his appeal.