SC urged to resolve Arroyo petition on remaining plunder rap

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Former President and reelected Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has reiterated her plea to the Supreme Court to resolve the petition on her remaining plunder case involving alleged misuse of P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) fund.

In a three-page motion filed Thursday, Arroyo said there is a need to resolve her petition in light of the recent order of the Office of the Ombudsman ordering the conduct of preliminary investigation for plunder and malversation of public funds also in connection with the PCSO funds—this time covering the period from 2004 to 2007.

“That the institution of the new complaint which involves disbursements of PCSO funds for earlier years hardly suggests that its filing is to vindicate a public wrong,” read the motion filed through Atty. Estelito Mendoza.

“Indeed, in an earlier pleading, the petitioner has stated that, in the light of the arguments now on records of the case, (petitioner Arroyo) sees the ‘break of dawn’ in the restoration of full restoration of her freedom. The office of the Ombudsman seeks to prolong her nightmare,” it alleged.

Arroyo urged the high court to resolve her petition “at the earlier possible opportunity,” lamenting that she has been in detention since October 2012.

Arroyo’s petition with the high court includes a petition for demurrer to evidence which seeks the dismissal of her case for lack of evidence, a petition for bail and questioning the finding of probable cause in her case.

The high court already asked the Sandiganbayan for the complete record of Arroyo’s plunder case.

READ: Sandiganbayan told to submit full record of Arroyo plunder rap

The high tribunal earlier stopped the trial of Arroyo in the remaining plunder case against her through the issuance of a status quo ante order (SQAO) on the proceedings before the first division of the anti-graft court pending its resolution of her bail petition. The order was extended three times. The SQA lapsed last June 20. RAM/rga

READ: SC extends anew suspension of Arroyo plunder trial