MANILA - Lawmaker Teddy Baguilat Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan to junk graft cases filed against him in connection with the purchase of a supposedly overpriced vehicle.

Baguilat filed a motion for the dismissal of the charges at the anti-graft court's 5th division, citing delays in the investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman.

The lawmaker is facing 2 counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the purchase of a second-hand Isuzu Trooper Wagon for a supposedly overpriced amount of P900,000 without public bidding.

He noted that the purchase of the vehicle was “made by the Province of Ifugao” when he was governor in 2003, but the filing of the cases at the Sandiganbayan only took place on February 9, 2018, or 15 years later.

“Accused Baguilat submits that the present case involves a single transaction, i.e. the alleged irregularity in the procurement of a second-hand Isuzu Trooper Wagon, which certainly did not involve complicated factual or legal issues as would justify a delay of almost eight years in terminating the preliminary investigation," Baguilat's motion read.

Because of his plea, the court rescheduled Baguilat's supposed arraignment on Friday to April 27, after the 10-day period given to the prosecution to file its comment.