DoJ calls Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to probe P551-M plunder case

SUBPOENAED. Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is facing a P551-million plunder case in relation to the alleged misuse of overseas Filipino workers’ funds. The complaint was filed by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez.

MANILA, Philippines—Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been subpoenaed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) in connection with a P551-million plunder complaint filed against her over the alleged misuse of overseas Filipino workers’ funds.

Arroyo, now a representative from Pampanga, was ordered to attend the preliminary investigation of the complaint on June 6. The complaint was filed by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez.

Aside from Arroyo, the other respondents who were also ordered by the DoJ to appear and submit their counter-affidavits were former Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) head Virgilio Angelo.

Misuse of Owwa funds

Chavez in his complaint alleged that Arroyo and the three former Cabinet officials had misused Owwa funds in three ways: To finance the acquisition of vehicles by several diplomatic outposts in the Middle East; for humanitarian assistance to Iraq; and to enhance Arroyo’s 2004 presidential bid.

To all these, Chavez charged, Arroyo gave her imprimatur as evidenced by the number of memorandum orders addressed to Romulo, who made the requests for the release of the Owwa funds, as well as in the executive orders transferring P530-million in Owwa Medicare funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., allegedly to promote Arroyo’s candidacy.

Chavez charged the respondents with violating the Constitution, the plunder law (Republic Act No. 7080), the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), the Omnibus Election Code, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713), as well as committing qualified theft.

He said Owwa funds—built up through the monetary contributions of OFWs and which are held in trust by the government—may not be used for purposes other than that for which the fund was set up.

Meanwhile, the DoJ has given Arroyo’s son, Ang Galing party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, until June 27 to submit his counter-affidavit in the P73.85-million tax evasion case filed against him and his wife Maria Angela by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The couple’s counsel, Ruy Rondain, told the DoJ that Mikey and his wife were overseas and would be back by June 17.

No income tax return

Under a new schedule agreed on by the parties, the couple must file their counter-affidavits by June 27 or the complaint would be considered submitted for resolution.

The BIR said Mikey did not file income tax returns in 2005, 2008 and 2009, while his wife was a one-time taxpayer in 2004.

The BIR said that based on Mikey’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth from 2002 to 2009, he and his wife had bought millions of pesos worth of properties, including houses, vehicles, and shares of stock from 2004 to 2009 that were not reflected in their income tax returns.