The Sandiganbayan has turned down the motion of the lawyers of fugitive former Budget undersecretary Mario Relampagos to withdraw as legal counsel in his various criminal charges filed at the anti-graft court.
Lawyers Godofredo de Guzman, Arnold Caga, and Christopher John Lao filed the motion to withdraw as legal counsel for Relampagos.
The three said they “can no longer carry out [their] responsibilities effectively for reasons beyond [their] control” after their client fled the country.
Relampagos is facing several charges at the anti-graft court owing to his alleged involvement in the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the P900-million Malampaya fund scams.
The lawyers said Relampagos refused to heed their advice to return to the Philippines and face the charges against him.
But the Sandiganbayan, in a minute resolution Thursday, junked the appeal of Relampagos’ lawyers.
“When the withdrawal is made without the consent of the client, the counsel must provide valid reasons to justify the withdrawal and, in his case, the court does not find the reason proffered by said counsel… as sufficient to justify its (sic) withdrawal as counsel for accused Relampagos,” the resolution read.
The anti-graft court added De Guzman, Caga, and Lao even “actively championed” the motion to travel abroad of Relampagos whose purpose then was to attend the meeting of the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management as well as visit his daughter and three grandchildren.
The anti-graft court believed the three lawyers of Relampagos “are still in the best position to defend accused Relampagos even in a limited capacity.”
It said having a new lawyer would only delay the case of Relampagos.
“As far as the court is concerned, their commitment is a continuing one which would be rendered inutile if they are allowed to withdraw their appearance,” the Sandiganbayan said.