Arroyo’s camp believes they can win cases, says spokesperson Horn

Former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes that they can win cases filed against the Pampanga lawmaker if the rule of law and rules on evidence are upheld.

Speaking before reporters on Thursday, Arroyo’s spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn said that they “believe in the legal process.”

“Alam namin ang ebidensiya at kung bakit siya sinasangkot (We know the evidence and why she is charged with those cases),” she said, pointing out that the former President’s lawyers were confident that they can defend their client.

Even the threat of more cases that could possibly be lodged against Arroyo was not enough to dampen their confidence, said Horn.

“We will defend ourselves from all cases. It’s not surprising for us pero sana mabigyan siya (Arroyo) ng araw sa korte to defend herself. Mas gusto namin na ang kaso ay i-akyat sa korte kung saan may process, rules and regulations. Nagpapasalamat kami na inaakyat sa korte ang mga kaso (We hope she be given a day in court to defend herself. We want cases brought to court where there’s process, rule and regulations. We are thankful the cases are being brought to court now),” she added.

The spokesperson described the Pampanga lawmaker’s medical condition as being “high risk” but not life threatening and said that Arroyo has gone to an alternative medicine clinic in Tagaytay to seek treatments.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Teddy Casino said Arroyo will be facing a stronger plunder case than the electoral sabotage case.

After attending the Sandiganbayan First Division proceedings on the plunder case filed against Arroyo for the alleged misuse of intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Casino, a complainant in the case, said “unlike the electoral sabotage case, this case is supported by documentary and testimonial evidence.”

He assumed that since the charges came from the Office of the Ombudsman the case will be airtight.

Pointing to a memorandum allowing the conversion of PCSO’s operational fund to intelligence fund that bore Arroyo’s initials, Casino said the government has a good chance of winning the case.

Colmenares said that they were confident that the motion to remand the plunder case back to the Office of the Ombudsman would expedite the serving of an arrest warrant on the former chief executive.

“The PCSO case has undergone a long preliminary investigation in the Ombudsman,” said Colmenares, adding that “the motion to remand is a delaying tactic and should not deter the issuance of warrant especially since Arroyo has already been granted bail in the electoral sabotage case.”