The Sandiganbayan has rescheduled to Nov. 23 the arraignment of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Nur Misuari in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of educational materials during his watch as the chief executive of the area.
The anti-graft court’s Third Division reset Misuari’s arraignment due to his pending motion to dismiss.
Earlier, Misuari asked the anti-graft court to dismiss the cases filed against him by the Ombudsman, citing an absence of evidence that will link him to the allegedly irregular transaction. He also raised the issue of inordinate delay against the Ombudsman.
Misuari is facing two counts each of graft and malversation by falsification owing to the alleged anomalous procurement of educational materials worth P115.2 million during his term as ARMM governor.
Misuari said he could not be held liable for the transaction that was done when he was no longer the ARMM governor.
Misuari and his co-accused allegedly conspired to give “unwarranted benefits, advantage and privilege” to MBJ Learning Tools, CPR Publishing, and White Orchids Printing. He said the payments to MBJ Learning in December were released in 2003, CPR Publishing in July 2004, and to White Orchids Printing in July 2004 and September 2005.
Misuari said that after his term ended on Sept. 30, 2001, his successor, Parouk Hussin, was governor when the payments were made.
“It is likewise clear as day that accused Nur Misuari did not receive any [of the] money or funds [that are the] subject matter of the complaint as the demand for payment was made when he was no longer performing the functions of the regional governor of ARMM,” Misuari said in his motion.
He added that the issue of conspiracy is farfetched since he was detained in Malaysia from December 2001 to January 2002 and for six years in the Philippines from 2002 to 2008.
Misuari also said his case should be dismissed because the Ombudsman took a total of four years and four months to finish its preliminary investigation.
Misuari is out on a P460,000 bail he posted in September 2017.