By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
CITY Prosecutor’s Office administrative aide Genard Abejo said he had planned to return the money left by his accusers after their meeting in a convenience store in Gusa two Fridays ago.
Abejo has also claimed that it was his accusers who kept on seeking his advice about the complaints filed against their children, and that he was unaware that they left him money on the table inside the Gusa establishment shortly before his arrest.
Abejo was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for allegedly asking a P350-thousand bribe in exchange for the dismissal of rape and qualified anti-child pornography complaints against the children of his accusers. His arrest resulted in an investigation into the alleged fixing of cases in the prosecutor’s office.
Abejo maintained that he did not ask money from the mothers of the respondents in the rape and qualified anti-child pornography complaints.
He said the women–Josie Bustamante and Jenny Jamito–were the ones who arranged a meeting with him at Shell mini-mart in Gusa.
Abejo said it was not the first time that the women went to see him, and that there were earlier meetings in restaurants on Capistrano and Corrales streets.
“Sila gyud kanunay ang mageach sa ako, dili ako ang nangita nila kay wala man ko makabalo kon taga asa sila,” Abejo told the Gold Star Daily.
Although a non-lawyer, the women sought his advice because being a CPO employee, he was familiar with the legal processes.
He said he merely advised Bustamante and Jamito to see their lawyer, and to seek a reinvestigation.
“Ako silang gitambagan unsay ilang buhaton kay sa kadugay na nako sa akong trabaho, nakama-o na sab ko gamay unsay proseso,” Abejo said.
After their meeting in Gusa, he said, Bustamante and Jamito left something wrapped in paper on the table.
“Paglakaw nila, wala sab sila magsulti unsa tong ilang gibilin sa lamesa. Wala sab nako hilabte, ako lang gitan-aw tan-aw tong giputos ug papil,” he said.
Abejo said he stayed behind because he was waiting for a friend to come.
About 30 minutes later, he said, Bustamante sent him a text message, informing him that she left P350 thousand on the table.
Abejo said he couldn’t decide at first what to do with the money, and whether or not he should bring it with him. He claimed he finally decided to bring the money so he could return it to Bustamante.
“Ako nalang gidala ang kuwarta kay ang akong huna-huna kon akong ibilin, basin mawala pud didto sa lamesa kay daghan ra bang tawo didto, ug kon mawala, ako na pod unya ang pangita-an ni Mrs. Bustamante,” he said.
CIDG agents arrested Abejo just as he stood up and headed towards his car.
Abejo, chairged with violating the anti-graft law and robbery/extortion, spent four days in detention. He bailed out on Tuesday, posting a P130-thousand bond.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
