The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the dismissal of a graft complaint filed against the late bilyonaryo, Roberto V. Ongpin and several others over a $20 million loan given to a six-month old real estate firm in 1980, the BusinessMirror reported.
In a ruling penned on January 17, the SC’s First Division said the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) failed to prove that the Ombudsman committed grave abuse of discretion in dismissing the graft case against the former trade and industry minister during Ferdinand Marcos’ administration, former tourism secretary Jose Aspiras and former Philippine National Bank top officials Panfilo Domingo, Gerardo Aguigo and Domingo Ingco.
The complaint filed by the PCGG accused PNB of putting the government at a disadvantage when it approved Marbella Club Manila Inc.’s request for a $20 million credit to be used for the construction of a tourism resort in Cavite.
“The Ombudsman found no proof of manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence on the part of the respondents, not a contract entered into to the great disadvantage or prejudice of the Philippine government; hence, no liability under Section 3 [e] and [g] of Republic Act No. 3019 attached to respondents,” the SC said.
The High Court also cleared officials of Marbella, Bernardo Vergara, Federico Salcedo and Merle Jean Deen, of any wrongdoing.