Rep. Jojo Ang walks free

By Alex P. Vidal

“It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” – Voltaire

THOSE who were expecting Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang to spend time in jail indefinitely after being charged with 14 counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan were disappointed when he walked free after posting a P90,000 bail in the court’s Third Division on July 27.

Ang, 49, will have to shell out additional P1.170 million of the total P1.260 million bail for the 14 counts to avoid incarceration.

Since the Iloilo solon wasn’t charged with plunder (Republic Act No. 7080), which is a non-bailable offense if the evidence of guilt is strong and the total ill-gotten wealth reaches P50 million or more, he couldn’t be jailed interminably even after a warrant of arrest was issued against him.

The Office of the Ombudsman slapped Ang with14 counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan on July 25 over his alleged links to a construction firm.

According to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, Ang was paid nearly P199 million from a construction firm he holds a stake after it secured P214-million worth of contracts from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

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Many of those who wished to see Ang spend time in jail were critics of former Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas, Ang’s political hierophant, who wanted to link Treñas to Ang’s meteoric ascension to power.

In other words, they wanted to “hurt” Treñas more than they wanted to hurt the embattled solon.

Critics of the retired political leader have seen Ang’s dilemma as a golden opportunity to take potshots at Treñas and the administration of his daughter, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Maria Lourdes Sarabia Treñas-Chu.

They wanted to hit three birds with one stone thinking a bad or negative issue for one is a bad or negative issue for all.

The problem is Treñas has been reticent about Ang’s predicament and seemed not inclined to join the fray, whether to decry his protégé’s misfortune or defend him.

Detractors have ribbed him for his silence, but the former city mayor remained unfazed.

When Ang’s alleged involvement in the flood control project scandal became known after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s “mahiya naman kayor” SONA last year, Treñas didn’t know what hit the party-list party he had been cultivating since 2019.

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In silence, Treñas, of course, has also been hurting.

Uswag Ilonggo partylist, after all, is his brainchild and he probably never thought the graft cases Ang is facing today would one day bring dishonor and shame not only to his propitious party-list but also to the City of Iloilo.

As much as possible, with the latest development, Treñas and his mayor daughter probably have been wanting to distance themselves from the beleaguered congressman, whose political future may have been shattered by the graft charges even if he will be exonerated.

Ang is facing alleged violations of Section 3 (h) of Republic act No. 3019, which prohibits public officers to “have direct or indirect financial interest in any business, contract, or transaction.”

“My conscience is clear. I am confident that I will be able to clear my name soon. My resolve for the truth to come out is stronger and clearer,” Ang had said.

“In my three years in public service, I have never used my position in the government for my own interest and to profit in any way.”

Ang is, of course, presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)