Ombudsman junks Arroyo plunder appeal

Rappler.com

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(CORRECTED) This paves the way for the issuance of an arrest against former President and now Pampanga Rep Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is seeking reelection

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Photo by AFP/Ted Aljibe

MANILA, Philippines (CORRECTED) – The  Ombudsman has denied the plea of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to drop the plunder charges filed against her, paving the way for the issuance of an arrest warrant against her anytime soon.

Plunder is a non-bailable offense. (Editor’s note: We earlier said that it was the Sandiganbayan that issued the resolution. We regret the error.)

In a 21-page resolution filed with the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman said Arroyo’s appeal has no basis in law. The resolution now allows the court to issue an arrest warrant against her.

It was Arroyo’s appeal in July – filed before the Ombudsman – that stopped the Sandiganbayan from issuing an arrest warrant against the former president.

Sources in the Sandiganbayan said the court’s First Division received the Ombudsman resolution on Monday, October 1, in connection with a motion for reconsideration filed earlier by the Arroyo camp questioning the P366-M plunder suit filed in July against her.

Also charged in that suit were 9 other former government officials. The case stems from allegations that she and her co-accused misused Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds during the latter years of the Arroyo administration.

Arroyo’s lawyers questioned the charges, which prompted the Sandiganbayan to withhold its decision to issue an arrest warrant against her.

On July 25, Mrs Arroyo was released from hospital detention following a Pasay court’s ruling that favored her.

But previous to this, the Ombudsman filed the plunder charges against her – on July 16.

Temporary relief

However, on July 27, the Sandiganbayan decided to stop hearing the plunder case as it ordered the Ombudsman to respond to her motion for reconsideration.

At that point, the court also said it will not issue an arrest warrant against Mrs Arroyo.

In its resolution then, the Sandiganbayan’s first division said that the Ombudsman should first address the motion for reconsideration that the Arroyo camp filed with the Ombudsman on July 25.

Arroyo’s lawyers had complained that they got a copy of the plunder case filed against the former president and 9 other ex-public officials only on July 20. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the suit July 16, while Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales signed the resolution recommending the filing of the plunder complaint as early as July 13, the lawyers said. – Rappler.com

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