Binaligtad ng Supreme Court ang hatol na guilty laban sa aktor at dating chairman ng Optical Media Board (OMB) na si Ronnie Ricketts.
Read: Ronnie Ricketts found guilty of graft by Sandiganbayan
Ayon sa ulat ng Manila Bulletin ngayong Biyernes, July 29, 2022, isinapubliko ng Mataas na Hukuman kahapon, July 28, ang hatol nila na napagdesisyunan noon pang March 16.
Ayon sa desisyon na isinulat ni Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, ang apela ni Ricketts ay may katuturan.
Hindi rin daw napatunayan ng prosecution na sangkot siya sa kasong graft na isinampa laban sa kanya.
Nakasaad sa court decision: “The appeal of Ricketts is meritorious. We find that the evidence against him is mere hearsay. The prosecution failed to prove his participation in the crime beyond reasonable doubt.”
Sinang-ayunan naman ng Korte Suprema ang desisyon ng Sandiganbayan laban kay Glenn S. Perez—OMB’s computer operator—sa kaparehong kaso na may kulong mula anim na taon hanggang walong taon at perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“However, the appeal of Perez is without merit. Having been caught red-handedly taking out the seized items without written authorization, Perez’ justifications for his actions are irrelevant since the mere act of taking out and returning the seized items without written authority from the OMB amounts to giving an unwarranted benefit to the owner of the seized items.”
Konklusyon pa sa desisyon: “After a judicious examination of the records and submissions of the parties in this case, the Court finds that the facts and evidence presented by the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of Ricketts beyond reasonable doubt.
“WHEREFORE, the appeal of RONALD N. RICKETTS is GRANTED, and the Decision dated March 15, 2019 of the Sandiganbayan (Special Fourth Division) in Case No. SB-15-CRM-0132 for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, and its Resolution dated November 15, 2019 denying reconsideration thereof, are AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION.
“Accused-appellant RONALD N. RICKETTS is ACQUITTED for failure of the prosecution to prove conspiracy and his guilt of the offense charged beyond reasonable doubt. The Hold Departure Order issued against him is LIFTED and SET ASIDE and his cash bond is RELEASED, subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures.
“The Sandiganbayan’s Decision finding accused-appellant GLENN S. PEREZ GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, and sentencing him to suffer the indeterminate PENALTY of imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) day as minimum and eight (8) years as maximum, with perpetual disqualification from holding public office is AFFIRMED in toto.
"Let entry of judgment with respect to Ronald N. Ricketts be issued immediately. SO ORDERED.”
THE GRAFT CASE
Hinatulang guilty ng Sandiganbayan ang dating OMB chairman na si Ronnie sa kasong graft noong March 15, 2019.
May kaugnayan ito sa anomalyang kinasangkutan diumano ni Ronnie, noong May 27, 2010, kung saan nagsagawa ang OMB operatives ng raid sa Quiapo, Manila.
Kasama si Ricketts sa mga operatibang nagkumpiska ng 127 boxes at dalawang sako ng pirated DVDs at VCDs, sa Sky High Marketing Corporation.
Dinala ng mga taga-OMB ang mga nakumpiskang DVDs at VCDs sa kanilang opisina, ngunit kinagabihan ay inilabas din ang mga ito.
Nadiin si Ronnie dahil sa statement ng mga saksing nagpatunay na siya ang nag-utos na i-pull out ang confiscated items na isinakay sa elf truck ng Sky High Marketing Corporation, na walang approved gate pass.
Hinatulan si Ronnie ng anim hanggang walong taong pagkabilanggo ng Fourth Division ng Sandiganbayan.
Bukod pa rito, kasama sa hatol ang "perpetual disqualification from holding public office" kaya hindi na maaaring manilbihan sa gobyerno ang action star.
Kasama ring nahatulan sa parehong parusa ang co-accused ni Ronnie na si Perez, dating pinuno ng Enforcement and Inspection Division (EID) ng OMB.
Bailable ang kaso kaya hindi nakulong noon ang aktor hanggang hindi pa final and executory ang hatol ng korte.
Kailangan lang nilang magdagdag ng PHP30,000 bilang bail bond para sa kanilang pansamantalang kalayaan.