Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon Lañete on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the plunder and graft cases filed against her before the Sandiganbayan for her alleged involvement in a P108-million pork barrel fund scam.
Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, alleged mastermind in the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund scam also pleaded not guilty to the charges before the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division.
Lañete’s supporters stormed the Sandiganbayan building on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City during the arraignment.
The anti-graft court has set a hearing in May to take up Lañete’s bail petition.
In February, Lañete, a former Masbate representative, surrendered to Philippine National Police at Camp Crame hours after the Sandiganbayan’s issuance of an arrest warrant on her.
Her co-accused on the 11 counts of graft were Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and officials Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare; former Technology Resource Center director Dennis
Cunanan, and National Agribusiness Corp. officials Allan Javellana, Rhodora Mendoza and Victor Roman Cacal.
The other accused, such as Relampagos and Cunanan, showed up at yesterday’s arraignment, denied any involvement in the crime and maintained their innocence to the charges.
Lañete and Napoles are presently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan in Taguig City.