FILE PHOTO: Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after a hearing in Sandiganbayan. (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Special First Division will continue with its trial on plunder charges against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
This is after the court denied Arroyo’s motion to dismiss her plunder case in relation to her alleged anomalous transactions with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office or PCSO when she was still the president of the country.
August of last year Arroyo and her co-accused filed demurer to evidence before the Sandiganbayan to dismiss their cases, stating that the prosecution failed to prove the strength of the evidence of guilt against the accused.
According to the court resolution, there is probable cause that Arroyo conspired with PCSO officials for the misuse of 366 million peso fund.
Hence the court also rejected the dismissal of cases of former PCSO Officials Benigno Aguas and Sergio Valencia.
Meanwhile, the court acquitted PCSO Board Directors Manuel Morato, Jose Taruc V, Raymundo Roquero and former Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar.
Arroyo camp said they will still file a motion for reconsideration to prove Arroyo’s innocence and the lack of basis of the plunder case charged against her. (JOYCE BALANCIO / UNTV News)