Gloria Arroyo asks SC to extend TRO

Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo AFP PHOTO

The camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked the Supreme Court to extend its order temporarily stopping her trial in connection with the alleged plunder of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

In a press conference in Makati on Friday, Estelito Mendoza, Arroyo’s lawyer, said he filed a motion early this month requesting a 60-day extension of the status quo ante order issued by the high court last November. The order, effective for 90 days, expired on Friday.

“I think the Supreme Court has just been too busy to attend to (the motion seeking a 60-day extension) because of the hearings on (Sen.) Grace Poe.” Mendoza said.