THE Sandiganbayan has denied the bid of prosecutors to withdraw a graft case against an official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board who had been accused of receiving money in exchange for a certificate of public convenience.
Prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman had sought the withdrawal of the graft case against former LTFRB executive director Aloysius Jardin, saying the Sandiganbayan does not have jurisdiction over the case because there was no allegation of bribery or damage to the government.
But the anti-graft court’s sixth division did not agree.
“Without doubt, the information alleges the request and receipt of a bribe in an amount exceeding P1 million. Thus, the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over the present case,” it said.
According to the information filed against Jardin, he allegedly asked for and received P4.6 million from a private individual on March 27, 2019 in exchange for his help in obtaining a certificate of public convenience or a route measured capacity.
Jardin was appointed to the LTFRB in March 2018 but was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2020 for grave misconduct.
