Palace hails plunder rap vs Arroyo

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda

The filing of plunder charges against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo now rests with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said this in reaction to the Senate blue ribbon committee’s recently coming out with a recommendation that plunder and technical malversation charges be filed against Arroyo.

The Senate panel’s recommendation was in connection with the Arroyo administration’s allegedly irregular use of P325 million from the funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during its last three years in power.

“The ball is now in the court of the Ombudsman to file charges for plunder against the officials involved,” Lacierda said.

The Senate blue ribbon committee, following its inquiry into the use of the PCSO intelligence funds, recommended that Arroyo, who is now a Pampanga representative, and former PCSO vice chair and general manager Rosario Uriarte be charged with plunder and technical malversation .

The committee found the P325-million disbursement as “grossly excessive and disproportionate to the claimed reasons for their release.” Norman Bordadora