A warrant of arrest was issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division against Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito in connection with his graft charge over the allegedly anomamous purchase of high-powered firearms when he was still the mayor of San Juan.
Sandiganbayan issed the warrant after it found probable cause to try JV Ejercito for graft. Aside from the arrest warrant issued against the senator, his co-accused-city administrator Ranulfo Dacalos, treasurer Rosalinda Marasigan, attorney Romualdo delos Santos, budget officer Lorenza Ching and engineer Danilo Mercardo were also implicated by the Sandiganbayan on graft charges.
A P30,000 bail was set by Sandiganbayan for one count of graft, according to the warrants signed by acting chairperson ssociate Justice Rafael Lagos and served to the San Juan city and Quezon city police chief.
The court stated that JV Ejercito was charge for graft over the anomalous purchase of high-powered rifles worth P2.1 million during the year 2008 when he was still the mayor of San Juan. Based upon the information gathered by the Sandiganbayan, Sen. JV Ejercito allegedly conspired with other city officials to purchase high-powered firearms in February 2008 using the city’s calamity fund as “investment for disaster preparedness.”
The firearms bought using the city’s calamity fund include: three units of model K2 cal. 5.56mm sub-machine guns and 17 units of Daewoo model K1 cal. 5.56 mm sub-machine guns. As a senator of the Republic of the Philippines, Sen. JV Ejercito the son of former Pres. Erap Estrada and Guia Gomez will serve as senator until the year 2019.