The Supreme Court in the Philippines has decided to reopen a graft case involving a P660 million behest loan granted by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to Deltaventures Resources Inc. (DVRI). Former officials of both DBP and DVRI are facing graft charges in this case.
The Ombudsman filed the case against the DBP officials for allegedly abusing their positions by conspiring with DVRI in the loan deal. The SC’s 2nd Division reversed the Sandiganbayan’s previous resolutions and ordered a trial on the merits to proceed promptly.
According to the SC, the full payment of the loan does not negate the possibility that it was a behest loan. The court emphasized that whether the loan was behest or not, despite being fully paid, should be determined through evidence in a trial.
Three individuals involved in the case were declared dead during the proceedings, leading to the closure of the cases against them. The SC highlighted that under current laws and legal precedents, the death of an accused before final conviction results in the dismissal of criminal charges.
This decision by the Supreme Court marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the controversial behest loan granted by the DBP to DVRI.
