CHARGES of direct bribery and misconduct were filed yesterday against the labor department official entrapped for allegedly soliciting and accepting money from a businessman.
Assistant Ombudsman-Visayas Virginia Santiago approved the recommendation of Graft Prosecutor Maria Regina Fernandez and filed the cases before the regional and municipal trial courts. She recommended bail at P20,000 and P10,000, respectively.
Police escorted respondent Wilfredo Wagas to the courts for the filing of the cases but released him after he posted bail.
The filing of the cases followed the brief inquest investigation of Graft Investigator Fernandez over the police’s complaint against Wagas last Friday.
“We do not intend to invoke our right to preliminary investigation,” said his defense lawyer – Salvador Solima – prior to the process. He said this would only delay their plan to post bail before the court today.
Had there been preliminary investigation, Wagas could have submitted a counter-affidavit to avert the filing of any case.
As there was no counter-affidavit, the anti-graft office filed the two cases yesterday based solely on the police’s allegations.
