The Sandiganbayan has denied the bid of former head executive assistant of ex-Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, seeking to inhibit all three associate justices of the court’s Sixth Division from further handling his P13.5-million graft case.

 Laureano Mañalac filed a motion for the inhibition of the 6th Division on 5 December, in mortal fear that his pending appeal for the reversal of the court’s graft conviction against him has no chance to be reversed or modified, or neutrally disposed of due to the “passionate questioning” Associate Justice Karl Miranda.

 Mañalac was found guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and meted up to 10 years behind bars. On top of the conviction, he was permanently barred from holding public office and was ordered to pay P13.5 million.

Mañalac is a co-accused of Alcala in a graft charge involving P13.5 million government funds illegally given to an ineligible farmers’ foundation in 2012.

The two were accused of giving unwarranted benefits, advantages, or preferences to Akong Magsasaka Foundation Inc. for releasing P13.5 million to its late former president, Bautista Ella, to become a development partner of the DA.

The investigation later revealed that Mañalac controlled IAMFI.

In August 2023, Miranda penned the decision, acquitting Alcala after it found insufficient evidence that the latter violated the graft law while leaving Mañalac to serve a conviction.

In denying the motion, the Sandiganbayan found Mañalac’s appeal completely bereft of merit.

Moreover, it deemed that Mañalac’s claim that Miranda’s “passionate questioning” dooms his chances to reverse the court’s August verdict, was “baseless” and “irrational.”

“From the foregoing, it is clear that the motion for inhibition of the 6th Division is simply a desperate and unwarranted attempt to prevent this court from ruling on the case,” the Sandiganbayan said.

 Subsequently, the court said Mañalac failed to show any bias and partiality exhibited by Miranda and other members of the 6th Division.