NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation agents arrested on Tuesday former Presidential Commission on Good Government chairman Camilo Sabio over cases pending before the Sandiganbayan.
Agents from the NBI Ant- Graft Division implemented the arrest orders for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds issued by the Sandiganbayan Fourth and Fifth divisions, respectively.
The NBI did not say how and where Sabio was apprehended as well as the background of the cases. The arrest took 82-year-old Sabio by surprise as he said he did not receive a subpoena or any prior notification.
Sabio was assisted by his wife Marlene who was booked at the NBI in Manila Tuesday afternoon.
“I did not know about this case. Maybe they forgot,” Sabio said.
“I am confident that I can be freed. My record has always been clean,” Sabio said.
The NBI acted upon a warrant of arrest and does not possess a copy of the case against Sabio.
The former PCGG chairman will be detained at the NBI until he can post an P80,000 bail at the Sandiganbayan.
Sabio’s arrest followed his conviction in a separate case in June, where the Sandiganbayan sentenced him to 12 to 20 years in jail for two counts of graft for the alleged anomalous lease of vehicles in 2007 and 2009.
Sabio’s conviction stemmed from the PCGG’s rental of 11 vehicles in 2007 and 2009 for P12.66 million, some of which he and several other agency officials used.
The Office of the Ombudsman had charged Sabio and four others with graft in 2011 for supposedly failing to hold a bidding process for the contracts.
Also tagged in the charges were former PCGG commissioners Tereso Javier, Narciso Nario and Nicasio Conti. Another accused, former commissioner Ricardo Abcede, passed way in 2012.
In July, Sabio appealed his conviction. The status of his appeal has not been released.
Sabio is currently detained at the NBI jail facility.
He was sentenced to a jail term of 12 to 20 years and slapped with an accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Sabio appealed his conviction in July.
