Sandiganbayan rejects Arroyo appeal to junk ZTE case

The graft case against former President and now Pampanga Rep Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will proceed following a Sandiganbayan decision to deny a motion to dismiss the graft case. The court issued the resolution Monday, January. In his motion to quash former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo called the graft case defective, saying the NBN-ZTE deal never pushed through. He also questioned the anti-graft court’s jurisdiction over the case, arguing that the contract was signed and executed in Boao, China in 2007. The Sandiganbayan dismissed Arroyo’s arguments, pointing out that the case stated that the offense was committed in February to April 2007 in Malacañang. “There is no basis to deal or argue in semantics,” the court said. “At this stage, this Court assumes jurisdiction based on what is alleged in the information.” The court also said the case is not defective even if the deal was botched.

Read more on Rappler.