Jimenez abandons suits vs 2 DoJ chiefs for 'heavenly' aims

Former Manila representative Mark Jimenez has chosen to devote his time to heavenly causes than pursue his fury against erstwhile political opponents. Jimenez on Tuesday said he withdrew the cases he filed against former justice secretary Hernando Perez and Raul Gonzalez, the incumbent chief of the justice department who is on-leave due to kidney ailment. "These (withdrawal of cases) are unconditional. I have not talked to anybody, I have never seen anybody. I just want to do this because I just want to proceed with what I love right now, which is Hulog ng Langit Foundation," Jimenez told reporters in an interview. In its Web site, the foundation said it “is a non-profit organization" that was put up by Jimenez “to uplift and unite the Filipino people through its spiritual and charitable works." On December 23, 2002, Jimenez accused Perez before the Ombudsman of receiving $2-million bribe from Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anopmina (IMPSA), a firm based in Argentina interested in entering into a power deal with the Philippine government. On June 22, 2007, Jimenez also filed a case against Gonzalez at the Office of the Ombudsman. Jimenez accused the justice chief of using his position in a “personal vendetta" against him. The case was filed after Gonzalez ordered the preliminary investigation of an estafa case involving Jimenez to be transferred to his department. "In fact I should have forgiven them earlier. Its not a question anymore of a judgment. I think forgiveness is spirit, its is an energy. This is unconditional, I don't want to interfere or even influence their decision. And I will not run for president," said Jimenez. Cases vs family Jimenez will also be withdrawing the cases he filed against his wife and children. "The cases as of today have not been withdrawn. It is the desire of our client, Mark Jimenez that the cases that he filed against his children and other relatives will be withdrawn. It will be done. Because it is what our client Mark Jimenez wants...," said Frank Chavez, Jimenez's lawyer. Jimenez filed estafa cases against his wife Caroline, his three children and a son-in-law for allegedly conspiring to sell his shares in a local telecoms firm without his permission. He said the shares were sold while he was imprisoned in the United States. In his six-page affidavit complaint for estafa through falsification, lodged at the Makati City Prosecutor's Office, Jimenez through his lawyer Edgar Francisco, accused his children Marcel Crespo, Virgilio Crespo and Myla Crespo-Villanueva of malversing more than $45 million worth of shares in Meridian Telekoms, which he bought from Victor "Vic-Vic" Villavicencio in 1999 for P14 million. Myla's husband, Generoso Villanueva, was also included in the estafa charges filed by Jimenez. - GMANews.TV