Businessman Roberto Ongpin pleaded not guilty at his conditional arraignment at the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday to graft charges in connection with P660 million in alleged behest loans that his Deltaventures Resources Inc. (DVRI) obtained from the Development Bank of the Philipines (DBP) in 2009.
Some major-major terms in the ongoing word war on the “impeachment” of Chief Justice Renato Corona are thrilling the guys down here in my barangay. One of the really big ones is “verification.”
No accused can be tried and convicted by a court of law, unless he is first arraigned. This is a basic principle of due process that harks back to the ancient democracy of Greece. This is why there is public clamor to “keep” former President Gloria Arroyo within the Philippines. Arraignment is required by the [...]
