Ex-DBM usec Relampagos flees PHL, ‘pork’ scam cases

Former Department of Budget and Management undersecretary Mario Relampagos has fled all his criminal cases related to the pork barrel fund scam after failing to return from his 31-day trip to the United States, according to the Sandiganbayan.

In two separate minute resolutions dated January 15 and released Thursday, the anti-graft court's Seventh Division said Relampagos' own lawyer manifested that his client has yet to return to the Philippines from his US trip. 

"This court has received the manifestation dated January 10, 2018 filed by the counsel for accused Mario L. Relampagos, alleging that accused Relampagos, for various reasons relating to his numerous indictments before this court, has opted not to return to the country," resolution read.

The Sandiganbayan allowed Relampagos to travel to the US from December 2, 2017 to January 1, 2018 to attend the meeting of The International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management and visit his daughter and three grandchildren.

On January 2, Relampagos called Atty. Godofredo de Guzman to apologize and advise that he will no longer return to the Philippines since he can no longer "psychologically and emotionally bear" his cases at the Sandiganbayan.

De Guzman said Relampagos is already facing more than 300 pork barrel and Malampaya fund scam-related cases across six out of seven divisions of the Sandiganbayan. He said 50 more are under preliminary investigation at the Office of the Ombudsman.

"Mr. Relampagos explained that he can no longer bear what he perceives as extreme injustice he is suffering and will certainly to continue to suffer, which has brought and will continue to bring unimaginable burden on his family and himself," De Guzman said in his manifestation dated January 10.

He added that Relampagos no longer has the resources to cover his bail and legal expenses, citing his need to post a P5.6 million bail bond for his Malampaya case alone.

Fugitive

However, the Sandiganbayan said Relampagos is now considered a "fugitive from justice" due to his absconcion and has ordered his immediate arrest.

"Relying on accused Relampagos' good faith in alleging his grounds to the United States, this court granted his motion to travel. Needless to say, accused Relampagos, in failing to return to the country by January 1, 2018, acted contrary to his representations to, and in blatant contempt of, this court," it said.

"Accused Relampagos' intent to evade prosecution is unmistakable not only from his failure to return to the country as undertaken, but likewise from his communications to his counsel," the resolution added.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel Relampagos' passport, which will expire on October 14, 2019, and for the prosecution to initiate steps for his extradition.

The respective bail and travel bonds posted by Relampagos were also forfeited.

The anti-graft court also directed the former official's legal team — De Guzman and lawyers Arnold Caga and Christopher John Lao — to show cause on why they should not be cited in contempt and why no administrative charges should be filed against them.

Associate Justices Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, Zaldy Trespeses, and Bayani Jacinto all signed the minute resolution.

Relampagos is a co-accused in the pork scam cases of former Masbate governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, former Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, and former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy Estrada. —KBK, GMA News