Casiño opposes Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss NBN-ZTE case vs Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines—Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teddy Casiño on Tuesday appealed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing the administrative case against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her alleged role in the scuttled $329-million national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp.

The Office of the Ombudsman junked the administrative case in September, citing jurisprudence stating that a public official could not be removed for administrative conduct committed during a prior term, said Casiño.

But he said the doctrine was not applicable to the case since he is not asking for Arroyo’s removal from office.

Instead, he wants the forfeiture of benefits and privileges she is entitled to receive as a former President.

Arroyo, now a congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga, is facing a slew of other charges for alleged corruption and election fraud.

The Department of Justice has yet to announce its decision on her request to travel abroad for treatment for her hypoparathyroidism, an endocrine disorder which her camp said was aggravated by the delicate surgeries–one in June and two in August–she underwent to correct cervical spondylosis.