Religious superiors laud graft raps vs Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines—The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines on Thursday lauded the Office of the Ombudsman’s filing of graft charges against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ex-Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.

AMRSP co-chair Sr. Mary John Mananzan said the case against Arroyo in particular can be cited as basis in preventing her from leaving the country.

“If [the report about the filing of cases] is true, it is indeed a welcome development,” Mananzan told reporters.

“At least, if the Supreme Court voids the electoral sabotage case … filed by the Comelec [against Arroyo], there would still be this case and so she can’t be allowed to leave the country. We wish the Sandiganbayan issue the arrest warrant soon,” she added.

On Wednesday, graft charges were filed at the Sandiganbayan against Arroyo, Abalos, former Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza by the Ombudsman.

It can be recalled that it was the AMRSP that had provided sanctuary to whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada in 2008 at the height of the Senate’s investigation into the scuttled $329-million national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp.