THE Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the provisional release of former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio on humanitarian grounds.
Sabio, who is 85-years old, was convicted by the Sandiganbayan in July 2019 for two counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly attempting to influence his brother Jose Sabio, then an associate justice of the Court of Appeals, in relation to a court case on the 2008 ownership squabble at the Manila Electric Company.
He was sentenced six to 10 years imprisonment, aside from perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
In its ruling, the SC First Division said: “Here, petitioner, all 85 years of age, is in his twilight and illness-laden years. The People itself has not refuted his serious medical condition. There is no indication that he is a flight risk for he is no longer even ambulatory.
Nor does he pose a danger of being a repeat offender since he had long ceased to be in government service.”
