Sandiganbayan allows graft trial of ex-ARTA DG Belgica to proceed

The Sandiganbayan has upheld its previous decision, allowing the graft trial of former ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica and four other officials to proceed.

In a resolution dated October 9, the anti-graft court denied the appeal filed by Belgica and his co-accused, who sought to overturn a previous ruling.

The case stems from ARTA's issuance of Orders of Automatic Approval (OAAs) that allegedly disregarded decisions made by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

The Sandiganbayan clarified that the graft case specifically questions the legality of the OAA issued by ARTA for 3G mobile frequencies, distinct from the broader jurisdictional issues before the Supreme Court.

The court stated that pending Supreme Court cases concerning ARTA's authority to issue OAAs are not sufficiently related to the graft charges to warrant suspending the trial, rejecting the argument of a prejudicial question.