Ombudsman: ‘Cases vs Arroyo are strong’

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Tuesday, September 18, said the government has sufficient evidence to secure the conviction of former President now Pampanga Rep Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in various criminal charges against her before the Sandiganbayan.
 
Morales told reporters in an ambush interview at the House of Representatives that graft investigators made a thorough job in the case build-up for the charges against Arroyo and her co-defendants.

“I am confident. I am not going to file a case just for the heck of filing. When I file a case, I believe that there’s probable cause,” the Ombudsman said.

“I can no longer control the minds of these justices of course, not to mention the fact that we go by the evidence. If the evidence is strong then that’s it.  If the justices do not find the evidence strong so be it,” she added.

Arroyo is facing graft and plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan over alleged anomalous transactions approved by her administration including the botched US$329-M National Broadband Network project (NBN) with Chinese firm ZTE Corp.; and the fraudulent transfer of P366 million confidential intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office from 2008 to 2010.
 
Prosecutors said she acted with intent for personal gain in both cases.
 
Trial in the NBN-ZTE cases is scheduled to start by next month with the prosecutor having already submitted the names of witnesses whose testimonies it is hoping to present in court.
 
The plunder case concerning the PCSO intelligence funds is undergoing review at the Ombudsman after the Sandiganbayan ordered the case back due to incomplete preliminary investigation because the case was filed in court before the defendants received copies of the adverse resolution.
 
Morales said the Ombudsman will resolve motions for reconsideration filed by Arroyo and her co-accused most likely before the end of September.

Named co-defendants in the plunder were former PCSO Board of Directors chairman Sergio O Velancia; former PCSO general manager Rosario C. Uriarte; PCSO directors Manuel L. Morato, Jose R. Taruc V, Raymundo T. Roquero and Ma. Fatima A. S. Valdes; PCSO budget officer Benigno B. Aguas; former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo A. Villar and former COA-Intelligence Fund Unit head Nilda B. Plaras. – Rappler.com
 

For related articles, read:

• Timeline: Arroyo and her electoral sabotage case
• Sandiganbayan: Why was Arroyo released?
• Arroyo bail: Forgive and forget?
• Arroyo, 9 others charged with plunder
• Comelec broke rules to charge Arroyo
• Graft court summons Arroyo doctors
• Court stops plunder hearing vs Arroyo
• Witness vs Arroyo credible, says Comelec