MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by a former Kalinga town mayor and his wife, in relation to a recent graft and bribery conviction. According to the Seventh Division, the motions — including a separate motion for voluntary inhibition of the Division justices — of ex-Tabuk mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr. and wife Salud Imatong Lammawin were denied for lack of merit. “Here, accused spouses argue that the Justices of the Seventh Decision are biased since ‘[they] believe that the Honorable Justices of the Seventh Division will not overturn the Joint Decision it issued,” the resolution dated September 11 said. This was supposedly for the facilitation of advance payments for the construction of the Tabuk Supply Water System Project. ADVERTISEMENT“In even simpler terms, it means that ‘once a lawsuit is decided, the same issue or an issue arising from the first issue cannot be contested again’,” Sandiganbayan said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 30, 2019 13:52 UTC