Socrates vs. Sandiganbayan

SALVADOR P. SOCRATES vs. SANDIGANBAYAN G.R. Nos. 118896-97. Februr! "#$ 1996

Facts: Petitioner who is the incumbent governor of Palawan, was first elected governor of the said  province in 1968 and was again reelected in both the 1971 and 1980 elections, until he was replaced b private complainant !ictoriano "odrigue# as $fficer%&n%'harge (overnor after the )*+ )*+ "evolu "evolutio tion n in Februa Februar r 19861986- +ubse.u +ubse.uent entl l,, both both petiti petitione onerr and "odrigu "odrigue# e# ran for  governor in the 1988 elections where the latter emerged victorious- &n the 199/ snchroni#ed national and local elections, the two again contested the gubernatorial post and this time, it was  petitioner who wont the time "odrigue# was still the $&' (overnor of the province, the Provincial (overnment of  Palawan, as represented b "odrigue# and the Provincial oard 2embers of Palawan, filed  before the $ffice of o f the 3anodbaan 3anodbaan two 4/5 complaints- 3he first complaint c omplaint charged petitioner  with violation of +ection 4b5 of "epublic ct o- 019, otherwise nown as the nti%(raft and 'orrupt Practices ct, and the second charged petitioner, together with several other provincial officers, with violation of +ection 4a5 and 4g5 of the same law$n *ecember /, 199, respondent court, without ruling on petitioners motion to include co%  principals, issued its .uestioned resolution granting the motion to suspend pendente liteand ordering the suspension of petitioner as Provincial (overnor of Palawan for a period of ninet 4905 das from notice-

&ssue: $ petitioners preventive suspension is legal and valid-

"uling: +ection 1 of "epublic ct o- 019 provides that: +)'- 1- +uspension and ;oss of enefits- % n incumbent public officer against whom an criminal prosecution under a valid information under this ct or under 3itle 7, oo && of the "evised Penal 'ode or for an offense involving fraud upon government or public funds or 

 propert whether as a simple or as comple< offense and in whatever stage of e