Mike Arroyo grateful over junking of wife’s graft case

By: 11 years ago

Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is grateful that the Ombudsman cleared his wife former president Gloria Arroyo of charges over the fertilizer fund scam.

In a statement, his spokesperson Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said Arroyo is “gladdened” and “gratified” with the recent turn of events. This is the fourth plunder charge dismissed by the Ombudsman against Mrs. Arroyo, who is now Pampanga representative.

Topacio said the junking of Arroyo’s cases only shows a “clear pattern of persecution (by) the present administration by way of filing Camoteng Cajoy Cases, hoping that one of them would hold water.”

“Unfortunately for them, even the most rabid administration puppets find it impossible to find merit in these hastily-prepared, totally weird cases,” Topacio said.

Topacio said Arroyo’s camp is grateful to their supporters.

“We thank the people who continue to stand with us, the decent people of society, who can see beyond the sanctimonious veneer of the Aquino government,” he said.

“We are hopeful that after this benighted regime, real justice will triumph and all lies shall vanish,” he added.

On Thursday, the Ombudsman cleared Mrs. Arroyo from the fertilizer fund scam, by which P728-million funds intended for fertilizers went to the campaign kitty of the former president during the 2004 elections. The scam dampened Arroyo’s credibility in her nine-year administration.