THE Justice Department has ordered the indictment of billionaire and newly elected 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero and two other people for allegedly stealing P17.9 million from the waterfront firm Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc.
Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas said they had found probable cause to hold the three for trial for the offense over which bail is not allowed.
In a resolution dated June 13, 2016, Caparas said Harbour Centre president Romero, chief operating officer for administration Edwin Jeremillo, and chief finance officer Edwin Joseph Galvez conspired to take funds totaling P17.9 million belonging to the company and placed the amount in their personal bank accounts.
“We find that there is enough evidence to show that, more likely than not, the crime of qualified theft has been committed, the respondents committed the crime charged, and they should be held for trial.”
Caparas also ordered the Quezon City Prosecutor to file information for eight counts of qualified theft against the Romero group.
Romero’s group immediately described the ruling as a “midnight resolution.”
“In the administration of justice, there is no such thing as a midnight resolution. That is the reason why we have inquest cases and criminal cases that have to be resolved. Justice delayed is justice denied and even the Constitution guarantees speedy disposition of cases,” Harbour Centre counsel Marlon Cruz said.
Lawyer Jerome Canlas, who acted as the complainant in the case in behalf of Harbour Centre, said the complaint filed against Romero had been ongoing for more than two years and that it was unfair to call it a midnight resolution.
“The resolution of a criminal case cannot wait for the next administration or the next Justice secretary,” Canlas said.
“There are aggrieved parties in a criminal case and that is why you have inquest cases, which should be resolved immediately. In our case, this has been dragging for more than two years and it is only now that it has been properly resolved.”
Romero’s group is accused of issuing and cashing eight company checks on separate occasions between February 2007 and December 2008.
Court records show that Romero issued and cashed three of the checks, claiming it those were payment for some advances he made to the company. Christine F. Herrera
Five of the checks were issued and cashed by Jeremillo and Galvez on Romero’s approval.
But Caparas said the group did not present any evidence that the money were payment for legitimate corporate expenses.