Ex-solon nabbed over graft case
- Published : Friday, February 08, 2013 00:00 journal.com.ph
A FORMER lawmaker was finally arrested after eluding authorities for eight years.
Former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Crescente Llorente Jr., 71, was arrested in his home in Sindangan town, for a graft conviction.
From his home, he was brought to Sandiganbayan where he has a standing warrant of arrestissued in 2005.
Found guilty of graft in 2004, Llorente was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The case stemmed from the complaint of a local businessman, Godofredo Diamante, which he claimed it was Llorente who ordered the illegal seizure of 930 wooden boxes from his store.
The alleged offense happened in 1993 when Llorente was still serving as the municipal mayor of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.
The guilty verdict against Llorente was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
In 2005, the Sandiganbayan Third Division subpoenaed the solon to appear before it for execution of judgment.
However, he failed to show up prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
At the hearing yesterday, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Third Division chairman Francisco Villaruz ordered Llorente committed to the National Bilibid Prison where he will serve his sentence.
Meanwhile, his lawyer Jose Victor Aberilla invoked humanitarian grounds and asked that his client be allowed to remain in confinement at the Philippine Heart Center because he was suffering from hypertension and diabetes and still unfit to travel.
After consultation with the other members of the court and with the prosecution, Villaruz decided to place the accused under hospital care in the meantime but under the custody of the Quezon City Police District. Jester P. Manalastas
Former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Crescente Llorente Jr., 71, was arrested in his home in Sindangan town, for a graft conviction.
From his home, he was brought to Sandiganbayan where he has a standing warrant of arrestissued in 2005.
Found guilty of graft in 2004, Llorente was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The case stemmed from the complaint of a local businessman, Godofredo Diamante, which he claimed it was Llorente who ordered the illegal seizure of 930 wooden boxes from his store.
The alleged offense happened in 1993 when Llorente was still serving as the municipal mayor of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.
The guilty verdict against Llorente was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
In 2005, the Sandiganbayan Third Division subpoenaed the solon to appear before it for execution of judgment.
However, he failed to show up prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
At the hearing yesterday, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Third Division chairman Francisco Villaruz ordered Llorente committed to the National Bilibid Prison where he will serve his sentence.
Meanwhile, his lawyer Jose Victor Aberilla invoked humanitarian grounds and asked that his client be allowed to remain in confinement at the Philippine Heart Center because he was suffering from hypertension and diabetes and still unfit to travel.
After consultation with the other members of the court and with the prosecution, Villaruz decided to place the accused under hospital care in the meantime but under the custody of the Quezon City Police District. Jester P. Manalastas
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