The Sandiganbayan has again postponed the arraignment of former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over graft charges linked to the 2019 sale of Chevron’s 45-percent stake in the Malampaya gas project to Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corporation.
Cusi’s camp, led by Senior Counsel Atty. Ruy Rondain, filed a motion to quash the amended criminal information, prompting the anti-graft court’s Third Division to defer proceedings. The arraignment is now set for January 16, 2026.
The court, chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda, also directed Cusi to explain his absence at Friday’s hearing.
The case stems from a Senate Energy Committee report that questioned the Department of Energy’s approval of the US$545 million Malampaya deal despite Udenna’s failure to meet financial requirements and submit audited financial statements.
The Ombudsman initially dismissed the complaint in 2022 for lack of evidence but reversed its ruling in 2024 after finding probable cause to charge Cusi and several DOE officials.