(UPDATE) THE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), the party of jailed former president Rodrigo Duterte, has confirmed that a case was filed at the Sandiganbayan against its acting chairman, former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi, over the sale of the government’s shares in the Malampaya Gas project.

The deal involved the selling of a 45-percent stake of Chevron Malampaya to UC Malampaya Philippines Pte. Ltd., a company owned by alleged Duterte crony Dennis Ang Uy.

Uy’s company also acquired another 45-percent share in Shell Exploration Philippines BV.

The transaction, deemed disadvantageous to the government, became the subject of a Senate investigation in 2021.

The Ombudsman has yet to release details of the transaction to the media.

In a statement released on Saturday, PDP deputy spokesman Ferdinand Topacio said it was “the same case that was previously dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Sec[retary] Cusi.”

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“The reversal of the said resolution last year is now the subject of certiorari proceedings before the Supreme Court, and out of respect to that institution and the principle of sub judice, we will not comment further on the merits thereof,” Topacio added.

Cusi charged over Malampaya deal

The PDP said it affirms its belief in the innocence of Cusi.

Cusi became acting chairman of the PDP after Duterte was arrested and flown to The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s bloody drug war.