Electoral sabotage charge a mockery—Arroyo lawyer

MANILA, Philippines—The lawyers of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel called the filing of the electoral sabotage case against her a “moro-moro” or mockery as the process by which it was carried out was done in haste.

Arroyos’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and legal spokesperson Raul Lambino were seen separately entering the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City where the former president has been confined.

Both of them said they would take up with Arroyo their next legal move against the case, which was seen as a way to stop Arroyo from  traveling abroad.

Topacio said it would be impossible for a judge to render a decision within the day, but should that  happen, the Comelec and the DOJ would have made a complete mockery of the judicial system.

“This recommendation of the Comelec has to be presented in court, which will carry out its own assessment and analysis to judicially determine the existence of a probable cause,” Topacio told reporters.

He said it would be completely surprising if the judge issued a hold departure order within the day.

“The evidence is so thick that even the two commissioners (of the Comelec) were not able to finish reading it,” Topacio said.

Topacio said he was worried how he will break the news to Arroyo since her condition now was “delicate.”