THE Sandiganbayan’s First Division has suspended for 90 days North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza pending litigation of the graft charges filed against her over allegedly anomalous purchase of diesel fuel in 2010. But the court said in its ruling that “[t]he validity of the Informations in these cases had been established. In fact, the accused had already been arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.”Informations refer to the charge sheets. According to the defense, direct contracting was resorted in purchasing the fuel upon the BAC’s recommendation, not upon Mendoza’s direction.

Source: Manila Times October 27, 2016 13:46 UTC