Arroyo: No plea bargain in 2 graft cases; I’m innocent

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday said she would not plead guilty to lesser offenses in order to evade tougher penalties in the two graft cases filed against her before the Sandiganbayan in connection with her alleged involvement in a scrapped $329-million telecommunications deal during her administration.

“President Arroyo is not open to any plea bargain. She maintains her innocence and stands by her not guilty plea,” her lawyers said.

In an eight-page pretrial brief submitted by her defense counsels, Arroyo, now a representative of Pampanga’s second district, expressed her desire to face trial on all cases brought against her pending before the antigraft court’s Fourth Division, where she is also facing an administrative proceeding.

Arroyo’s lawyers said they would present 12 potential witnesses to testify in her defense and identified various documents that they would mark as evidence during the trial stage. The brief was signed by J. Alberto C. Flaminiano, Laurence Hector B. Arroyo and Jose Aurelio B. Alban.

Arroyo is accused of two counts of graft and/or violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for allegedly having had unlawful interests in the NBN-ZTE deal.

Arroyo’s lawyers listed former President Fidel V. Ramos as one of witnesses for the defense.

Also listed were three of her Cabinet officials, former Trade Secretary Peter V. Favila, former Presidential Chief of Staff Michael T. Defensor and former Local Government Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno.

In the second graft case, Arroyo identified only two possible witnesses, husband Jose Miguel T. Arroyo and former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., both named coaccused in the case.